Lisa Murkowski: the only Republican senator to oppose Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation
US President Donald Trump predicted that Senator Lisa Murkowski ‘will never recover’ politically for her vote against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh
Once again, Lisa Murkowski was all alone.
Eight years ago, Republican leaders abandoned the Alaska senator after she lost to a tea party primary challenger.
On Saturday, some 20 hours after delivering an anguished speech to a nearly empty Senate chamber, she etched her place in history as the only Republican senator to oppose Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.
She also became the target of sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump, who predicted in brief telephone interview Saturday that she would “never recover” from her vote and never be forgiven by the people of her state.
As the rest of her party celebrated Kavanaugh’s ascent to the nation’s highest court after a tumultuous nomination jolted by allegations of sexual misconduct, Murkowski reflected on what she said was a wrenching decision that had kept her from eating and sleeping well.
“Painful,” she said late Friday, describing her choice, which she attributed to concerns about Kavanaugh’s temperament when he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the allegations last week.
After the vote on Saturday, she voiced hope that Kavanaugh would work “to restore or build that public confidence.”