Sept. 24, 2018
"Ted Cruz heckled in Washington restaurant over Kavanaugh controversy" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to a pair of videos posted online, a group of opponents to the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh hounded U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, out of a Washington restaurant Monday evening.
"I'd love to talk with you about Brett Kavanugh tonight," a woman said in a video posted by the Twitter account "Smash Racism DC."
"I'm a constituent. Love to know what your vote is going to be tonight," she added. "I know that you're very close friends with Mr. Kavanaugh ... Do you believe survivors, sir?"
The exchange comes amid a charged day in the nation's capital, as Republican leadership continued its push for Kavanaugh's confirmation. Kavanaugh's prospects came under withering attack over the past 10 days, after California professor Christine Blasey Ford accused him of sexually assaulting her when both were Washington suburban teenagers.
In both that video and another one concurrently posted, protestors surround the senator and his wife, Heidi Cruz, with chants of "We believe survivors!"
At one point, the woman told Cruz "I have a right to know what your position is on Brett Kavanaugh."
Cruz responded, "God bless you, ma'am."
Since the first allegations against Kavanaugh exploded over a week ago, Cruz has carefully measured his words and let other senators, including the state's senior senator John Cornyn, take the lead on pushing forward with Kavanaugh. Cruz is in a tight re-election campaign against U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso.
A Cruz spokesperson declined to comment late Monday night.
Read related Tribune coverage
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2018/09/24/sen-ted-cruz-texas-heckled-restaurant-over-kavanaugh-controversy/.
Texas Tribune mission statement
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
