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Coons Wants Info on Kavanaugh’s Knowledge of ‘Sexually Explicit’ Emails

Democratic senator asks nominee if former judge ‘treated women inappropriately’

Brett Kavanaugh adjusts his nameplate as he takes his seat for day three of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Brett Kavanaugh adjusts his nameplate as he takes his seat for day three of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

A Democratic senator wants to know if Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh ever received email from an alleged “sexually explicit email list” run by a former federal appellate judge who resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations.

Alex Kozinski served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, for over 30 years until he retired in December amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Kavanaugh clerked for Kozinski in 1991, and Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware wants to know if the high court nominee was part of the illicit email list.

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“It has been reported that Judge Kozinski had a sexually explicit email list, called the Easy Rider Gag List,” Coons wrote in a 13-page document containing questions spurred by or not asked during Kavanaugh’s four-day Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing last week.

“Did you ever receive an email from this list? If it is necessary to refresh your recollection, please review your email accounts before answering this question,” Coons directed Kavanaugh.

The document includes a list of questions about whether Kavanaugh had any knowledge of mistreatment of women by Kozinski.

“Do you believe that Judge Kozinski treated women inappropriately?” Coons asks. “During the entire course of your relationship with Judge Kozinski, did you ever witness him engaging in inappropriate behavior?”

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Coons also wants to know if the former judge ever used “demeaning language when discussing women,” and whether anyone ever brought concerns to Kavanaugh about such behavior by Kozinski. And it directs him to name names.

The senator also zeroes in on a personal website of Kozinski’s that contained “explicit postings.”

“When did you first become aware of Judge Kozinski’s personal website?” Coons asked. “At any time, did you provide information related to an inquiry regarding Judge Kozinski’s behavior?”

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