Hillary Clinton laughs at Kavanaugh’s claim of ‘revenge’

Hillary Clinton on Tuesday balked at Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s claim that the allegations of sexual misconduct against him are being carried out as part of “revenge on behalf of the Clintons,” saying such a declaration “deserves a lot of laughter.”

During the 9-hour hearing last week that gripped the country, Kavanaugh testified that Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations had been a “calculated and orchestrated political hit, fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election.” He also referenced his work on the Starr report that helped pave the way to former President Bill Clinton’s impeachment, and said that he was the victim of revenge for the Clintons.

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When asked about the statement at The Atlantic Festival on Tuesday, Clinton laughed.

“I thought it was part of the whole of his very defensive and unconvincing presentation,” Clinton said. “I told someone later, ‘Boy, I tell you, they give us a lot of credit.’ 36 years ago we started this against Kavanaugh.”

The former secretary added that if Kavanaugh is expected to approach cases and defendants with fairness, “there’s lots to be concerned about.” She also praised the women who confronted Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) with their own stories of sexual assault as he was on his way to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing where he demanded an FBI probe into the allegations. Clinton said they were “righting the balance” of women’s narratives being historically underrepresented.

Clinton said earlier this summer, upon Kavanaugh’s nomination, that his confirmation would threaten the progress made on women’s issues and turn the clock “back to the 1850s.”