Kavanaugh Lying: What the Public Record Shows
Kavanaugh lying allegations center on sworn testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2018, where multiple senators and former colleagues raised concerns about factual accuracy. The FBI background investigation completed in October 2018 did not find corroborating evidence for the most serious claims, but it did not interview all named individuals. Public records, including court filings and committee transcripts, remain the primary sources for evaluating these allegations. For context on Senate confirmation processes, see Senate.gov.
Legal experts note that proving Kavanaugh lying in a criminal sense requires demonstrating intentional material falsehoods under oath, a high bar under federal law. The Senate confirmed Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in October 2018 with a 50-48 vote. Subsequent litigation and ethics complaints have not resulted in formal findings of perjury or false statement charges against him. For background on Supreme Court confirmation hearings, see SCOTUSblog.
Allegations, Investigations, and Official Responses
The primary accusation of Kavanaugh lying focused on his Senate testimony regarding his drinking habits and his understanding of Senate investigation procedures. Multiple accusers came forward in 2018, and the Senate Judiciary Committee held a week of hearings in September 2018. The FBI supplemental background check was limited in scope and did not re-interview the accusers or several key witnesses. For details on the FBI background investigation process, see FBI.gov.
Kavanaugh and his supporters denied the allegations and characterized the process as a partisan hit job. The American Bar Association rated his temperament and honesty as "not qualified" in a formal evaluation, a rare move for a Supreme Court nominee. The full Senate voted to confirm him despite the ABA rating and the unresolved allegations. For the ABA's evaluation criteria, see AmericanBar.org.
Long-Term Impact on Public Trust and Institutions
Polling data from 2018 and subsequent years shows a sharp partisan divide in public views of Kavanaugh's honesty, with trust largely split along party lines. The confirmation process drew record public attention to Supreme Court nominations and increased scrutiny of nominees' past conduct and testimony. Media coverage of the hearings set new benchmarks for live coverage and social media engagement around confirmation votes. For current polling trends, see PewResearch.org.
Ethics watchdog groups have continued to file complaints and requests for recusal based on the 2018 testimony and subsequent disclosures. The Supreme Court's code of conduct, which was made public in November 2023, applies to all justices, including Kavanaugh. Formal investigations by the Judicial Conference have not resulted in public sanctions or removal proceedings related to the 2018 allegations. For the Court's ethics code, see SupremeCourt.gov.