Nine Groups Demand Brett Kavanaugh Recuse Himself From Facebook Case Based On His Deep Personal Connections to Facebook Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 24, 2020

Nine Groups Demand Brett Kavanaugh Recuse Himself From Facebook Case Based On His Deep Personal Connections to Facebook Leadership

WASHINGTON, DC— A coalition of groups including Accountable Tech, American Economic Liberties Project, Blue Future, Demand Justice, Demand Progress, Other 98, Progress America, Revolving Door Project, and Social Security Works released the following statement calling on Brett Kavanaugh to recuse himself from Supreme Court’s review of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action against Facebook:

“Brett Kavanaugh must recuse himself from this case based on his deep, personal connections to the top leadership at Facebook. The top lobbyist at Facebook called Kavanaugh his ‘closest friend in Washington’ and even hosted a private celebration for Kavanaugh at his home after he was confirmed despite multiple, credible allegations of sexual assault. Brett Kavanaugh cannot possibly claim to be neutral in this case. At a time when Facebook’s growing influence in Washington and the Roberts Court’s pro-corporate bias are already under scrutiny, Kavanaugh failing to recuse himself would undermine any semblance of equal justice being done in this case.”

Federal law states that any justice “shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.”

Facebook’s Vice President of Global Public Policy Joel Kaplan reportedly “helped quarterback” Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Kaplan corralled support for Kavanaugh to be selected even before he was nominated, and he consulted with Kavanaugh on his public response to accusations of sexual assault from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. During hearings following Dr. Ford’s allegations, Kaplan sat behind Kavanaugh as he testified. Kaplan said: “I have known Brett and Ashley Kavanaugh for 20 years. They are my and my wife Laura’s closest friends in D.C. I was in their wedding; he was in ours. Our kids have grown up together.” After Kavanaugh was confirmed, Kaplan hosted a party for people who had worked on the nomination, and Kavanaugh attended. Last year, Facebook was a “gold circle” sponsor of the Federalist Society’s annual gala dinner, which featured Kavanaugh as a guest of honor.

Facebook has said that “billions of dollars” are at stake in the case.

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