Full Breakdown
Jeffrey Epstein's Support for Brett Kavanaugh During Confirmation Hearings
2/16/2026, 7:44:50 PM
Epstein's Involvement in Kavanaugh's Confirmation
Newly released emails and text messages from Jeffrey Epstein reveal his sympathy for Brett Kavanaugh during the Supreme Court nominee's contentious confirmation hearings in 2018. The communications, made public by the Department of Justice, indicate that Epstein believed the allegations made by Christine Blasey Ford could jeopardize Kavanaugh's nomination. On September 22, 2018, Epstein expressed to an unidentified recipient, “Ive sat in Kavanaugh chair. Im thinking of November,” although the meaning of this reference remains unclear. He characterized the Senate judiciary hearing as “a trap!” and anticipated that Ford would present herself as a victim, stating, “She will cry, make sordid allegations.”
Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor, testified on September 26, 2018, alleging that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her during a gathering in the summer of 1982. Kavanaugh denied these allegations. Epstein criticized the Senate Judiciary Committee's decision to appoint a female prosecutor, Rachel Mitchell, to question Ford, labeling it a “horrible choice” and suggesting that she lacked the necessary skills for effective cross-examination.
Epstein's Critique of the Hearing Process
Epstein's messages included suggestions for questions he believed should have been posed to Ford to undermine her credibility. He questioned whether Ford's family had a "history of anxiety" and how she managed to escape the alleged assault. His commentary reflects a broader strategy to discredit Ford's testimony, which he viewed as pivotal to Kavanaugh's confirmation.
Lisa Graves, a former chief counsel for nominations at the Senate Judiciary Committee, condemned Epstein's involvement, stating it was “appalling to see a sexual predator weighing in this way against a woman who courageously testified.” Graves highlighted the troubling juxtaposition of Epstein's history with the serious allegations against Kavanaugh.
Connections Between Epstein and Kavanaugh
While there is no evidence that Kavanaugh and Epstein ever met, their professional paths intersected through Kenneth Starr, the former U.S. solicitor general who oversaw the investigation into Bill Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Kavanaugh served as an associate under Starr during this investigation. Epstein maintained a close relationship with Starr, who facilitated a controversial plea agreement for Epstein in 2008, allowing him to avoid federal sex-trafficking charges.
In the lead-up to Kavanaugh's nomination, Epstein expressed to Starr that Kavanaugh was his “first choice” to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. This correspondence occurred just days before Kavanaugh's official nomination by President Donald Trump.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The released documents do not provide evidence of direct interactions between Kavanaugh and Epstein. However, they do illustrate Epstein's active engagement in the political dynamics surrounding Kavanaugh's confirmation, raising questions about the influence of personal relationships in judicial appointments.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Ive sat in Kavanaugh chair. Im thinking of November.” — Jeffrey Epstein
- “Horrible choice of prosecutor woman. critical and maybe lethal mistake. . prosecutors don’t cross examine. they prosecute. power on their side . she should have been a criminal defense attorney,” — Jeffrey Epstein
- “It is shocking in part because you have this person who was at the center of efforts to abuse young women and girls and you have an adult woman testifying how she was allegedly treated by Kavanaugh and his friend, at an age when she was still a girl,” — Lisa Graves
This examination of Epstein's communications during Kavanaugh's confirmation highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding the nomination process, particularly in the context of sexual assault allegations.
