Judge Brett Kavanaugh sent a new letter to the leadership of the Senate Judiciary Committee Committee Monday afternoon vowing to push forward with his nomination to the Supreme Court.
"As I told the Committee during my hearing, a federal judge must be independent, not swayed by public or political pressure. That is the kind of judge I will always be. I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process. The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. The last-minute character assassination will not succeed," Kavanaugh wrote. "I have devoted my career to serving the public and the cause of justice, and particularly to promoting the equality and dignity of women. Women from every phase of my life have come forward to attest to my character. I am grateful to them. I owe it to them, and to my family, to defend my integrity and my name. I look forward to answering questions from the Senate on Thursday."
Kavanaugh also issued a dire warning about the unsubstantiated claims being made against him by two women and Democrats on the Committee.
"These are smears, pure and simple. And they debase our public discourse. But they are also a threat to any man or woman who wishes to serve our country. Such grotesque and obvious character assassination—if allowed to succeed—will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from service," he said.
Feinstein has called for an indefinite suspension of Kavanaugh's confirmation process, while Grassley has worked tirelessly to get a hearing date for Kavanaugh's first accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, nailed down. The White House and President Trump are fully backing Kavanaugh.
"I'm with Judge Kavanaugh," Trump said from the UN General Assembly in New York City Monday morning. "For people to come out of the woodwork from 36 years ago and 30 years ago and never mentioned it, all of a sudden it happens...in my opinion, it's totally political. It's totally political. There's a chance that this could be one of the single most unfair, unjust things to happen to a candidate for anything."