Hatch, the most senior Republican in the Senate who has participated in 15 confirmation battles, reiterated his argument that Democrats will try to paint Kavanaugh as someone he’s not but that in the end, he’ll get a seat on the high court.
“I think his confirmation will go well,” Hatch said during brief remarks to reporters before meeting more privately with Kavanaugh. “There will be the usual attempts to sully his reputation not only in the Senate but outside the Senate but he’ll be able to handle it. I have every confidence this man should be confirmed.”
President Donald Trump tapped Kavanaugh, a judge on the District of Columbia Circuit Court, to take the vacancy being left by retiring Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy.