Jeffrey Epstein's Emails Reveal Sympathy for Brett Kavanaugh During Contentious Supreme Court Confirmation
Newly released Department of Justice files have unveiled that convicted sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein closely monitored and sympathized with Brett Kavanaugh during the then-Supreme Court nominee's highly contentious 2018 confirmation process. The emails and text messages show Epstein believed Christine Blasey Ford's sexual assault allegation could derail Kavanaugh's nomination and suggested Republicans should have been more aggressive in their handling of Ford's testimony.
Epstein's Critical Analysis of the Judiciary Hearing
In a message dated September 22, 2018, Epstein cryptically remarked, "Ive sat in Kavanaugh chair. Im thinking of November," though the meaning of the November reference remains unclear. He described the pending judiciary hearing as "a trap!" and predicted Ford would cry, make sordid allegations, and claim trauma, stating, "this is a very special skill set needed." Epstein criticized the Republican senators' decision to appoint a female prosecutor, Rachel Mitchell, to cross-examine Ford, calling it a "horrible choice" and a "critical and maybe lethal mistake." He argued that prosecutors do not cross-examine but prosecute, suggesting a criminal defense attorney would have been more appropriate.
Christine Blasey Ford's Harrowing Testimony
Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University, delivered gripping Senate testimony on September 26, 2018, alleging under oath that a "visibly drunk" Kavanaugh pinned her on a bed, groped and grinded against her, and tried to remove her clothes during a gathering in the summer of 1982 when both were teenagers. She testified that she believed Kavanaugh was going to rape her, covering her mouth to muffle her screams before escaping. Kavanaugh denied all allegations. Epstein, in his messages, suggested alternative questions for Ford, including inquiries about family history of anxiety, bedroom lighting, and how she left the party, though Ford had explained she could not recall all details but remembered the assault clearly.
Reactions and Connections to Kenneth Starr
Lisa Graves, a Democrat and former chief counsel for nominations at the Senate judiciary committee, expressed outrage at the emails, stating, "It is appalling to see a sexual predator weighing in this way against a woman who courageously testified about a man at the precipice of one of the most powerful posts in the country." She highlighted the irony of Epstein, a known abuser of young women, commenting on Ford's testimony about an alleged assault when she was a girl. While there is no evidence Kavanaugh knew or met Epstein, the files reveal Epstein was in frequent contact with Kenneth Starr, the late former US solicitor general who led the investigation into Bill Clinton. Starr, a close friend of Epstein, helped him secure a plea agreement in 2008, avoiding federal sex-trafficking charges.
Epstein's Favoritism and Behind-the-Scenes Communications
Emails indicate Epstein favored Kavanaugh's nomination by Donald Trump, calling him his "first choice" in a July 4, 2018, exchange with Starr. On August 23, 2018, Epstein asked Starr about a report on Kavanaugh and the Starr investigation, to which Starr replied it should be a "non-event for Brett." Epstein later praised Starr's genius after reading Kavanaugh's disclosure, likely referring to a memo released by the National Archives detailing Kavanaugh's role on Starr's team during the Clinton investigation. In that memo, Kavanaugh advocated for making Clinton's "pattern of revolting behavior clear" and included graphic sexual questions for Clinton. Additional messages show Epstein was informed about Beth Wilkinson representing Kavanaugh, further illustrating his deep involvement in monitoring the confirmation process.
