Swing state Democrat Claire McCaskill will vote no on Brett Kavanaugh — but not over the sexual assault allegations

New York Daily News, The (NY)

Sept. 20--Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat in a traditionally red state, announced Wednesday she will vote no on President Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh -- but stressed her opposition was not influenced by recent sexual assault allegations against him.

Instead, McCaskill said she arrived at her decision after reviewing Kavanaugh's views on the "avalanche of dark, anonymous money that is crushing our democracy."

"He has revealed his bias against limits on campaign donations which places him completely out of the mainstream of this nation," McCaskill said in a statement. "Going even further, Judge Kavanaugh will give free reign to anonymous donors and foreign governments through their citizens to spend money to interfere and influence our elections."

McCaskill brought particular attention to "issue ads," which were used by the Russian government as part of its Trump-boosting interference in the 2016 election.

"Judge Kavanaugh has clearly said that there should be literally no restrictions on these ads," McCaskill said. "He has called restrictions on these dark money ads 'blatantly unconstitutional.'"

She added, referring to the Kremlin's so-called Internet Research Agency, "A Russian company that has been indicted for election interference is currently using Judge Kavanaugh's opinion to argue for their innocence."

McCaskill said she is troubled by California professor Christine Blasey Ford's allegations that Kavanaugh drunkenly forced himself on her while they were both in high school, but noted those claims had nothing to do with her decision.

"The recent allegations against him are troubling and deserve a thorough and fair examination," McCaskill said.

She also noted Kavanaugh's sweeping views on presidential powers over the rule of law makes her "uncomfortable."

McCaskill's statement conspicuously didn't reference abortion rights -- a hot button issue for some Democrats who suspect Kavanaugh would as a Supreme Court justice be in favor of overturning or undermining the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

McCaskill is among a handful of red state Democrats rumored to have considered voting for Kavanaugh's nomination to curry favor with constituents ahead of the November midterms.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) can only afford to lose one Republican vote in order to still confirm Kavanaugh if Democrats vote against him on party-lines.

Some Republican senators, including Jeff Flake of Arizona, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, have been rumored to consider voting against Kavanaugh.

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