Republicans to roll dice by grilling Jackson over child-pornography sentencing decisions
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee are set to grill Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Tuesday over what they say is her record of leniency in sentencing people who pleaded guilty to possession or distribution of child pornography — a politically loaded charge. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who is widely thought to be eyeing a run for president, is pushing this line of questioning most forcefully. But other Republicans on the panel, such as Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), are expected to press Brown on the issue as well. Of all the criticisms leveled at Jackson, the accusations that she’s been soft on child predators are gaining the most attention, but it’s a politically risky line of attack against the first Black woman nominated to serve on the nation’s highest court. Republicans have promised a dignified confirmation process and they don’t want to appear that they’re ganging up unfairly on President Biden’s nominee or waging an unfair attack. ...