Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more!
Dozens Arrested As Protesters Disrupt Kavanaugh Hearing On Capitol Hill
Police arrested 70 people on Tuesday and said they “responded to numerous incidents of unlawful demonstration activities" during the first day of Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearing.
The confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been marked by protests and arrests, according to multiple reports, as critics and detractors continue to try and disrupt the proceedings tied to President Trump’s pick to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Wednesday marked the second day of Kavanaugh’s hearing. Just after Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, opened the day’s session, a protester began shouting, “Sham president, sham justice!” from the back of the room, Fox News reports.
The outbursts continued, with Grassley intermittently acknowledging them.
“Let these people have their free speech and interrupt the other 300 million people listening,” he said, as quoted by Fox News.
It was a continuation of Tuesday’s escapades, as 70 were arrested in connection with protesting the hearing’s first day and “unlawful demonstration activities,” according to CNN. One of those arrested was “Covert Affairs” actress Piper Perabo, who, USA Today reports, posted a video of herself being led out of the hearing by police.
"I was just arrested for civil disobedience in the Kavanaugh hearings," Perabo tweeted.
Capitol Police said in a statement on Tuesday that they “responded to numerous incidents of unlawful demonstration activities within the Senate Office Buildings today that were associated with the first day of hearings held by the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
Meanwhile, outside the court on Tuesday, a group of protesters remained silent in the halls of the Hart Senate Office building, their actions and outfits a nod to the Hulu drama “The Handmaid’s Tale,” according to CNN.
In the hearing itself, Kavanaugh made waves on Wednesday after he refused to say whether or not a sitting president should be forced to respond to a subpoena, ABC News reports.
The day prior, Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg, who was killed in the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School earlier this year, tried to shake the nominee’s hand and was refused.
“Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg's dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
[Photo credits: Getty, AP]
