Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin on Tuesday called out Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) for attempting to tarnish Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court by referencing her name as he deliver a speech on the Senate floor to introduce a child pornography legislation that is reportedly backed by the conspiracy movement QAnon.
Hawley, who has taken issue with the way Jackson sentenced child pornography offenders, announced that he is introducing new legislation that would toughen prison sentences for child pornography.
But Hawley’s stunt was swiftly called out by Sen. Durbin saw it as suggested that Hawley was grandstanding for the QAnon viewers, who believe Democrats are running a vast pedophile ring.
“The Senator from Missouri comes to the floor today while Judge Jackson’s nomination is pending on the Senate calendar,” Durbin said after Hawley spoke.
“It’s no coincidence that he is raising this issue within hours or days before her confirmation vote,” the Illinois senator said. “It’s one more very transparent attempt to link Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation with this highly emotional issue of federal sentencing when it comes to child pornography or child exploitation.”
“There are some political groups — at least one well-known political group that manufactures theories about child pornography and pedophilia and the like and even inspires deadly reactions to them and they’re cheering this on,” Durbin added.
Watch the video below:
