Photo courtesy of Ron Cogiven
Mason Law School professor recalls working with Kavanaugh
BY LAUREN SULLIVAN, LONGFORM EDITOR
In the midst of sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, an Antonin Scalia Law School professor who has known Kavanaugh for over a decade spoke out in support of him.
Jennifer Mascott met Kavanaugh when she served as his clerk in 2006, during his first year on the U.S. Court of Appeals. In August of 2017, Mascott joined Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School as a law professor.
In an interview with PBS NewsHour on Thursday, Sept. 20, at which point there had been one allegation of sexual assault against Kavanaugh, Mascott said, “Everything I know of him, these accusations are flatly inconsistent with his character.”
Mascott expressed shock upon hearing of the allegation: “It sounded [like] the opposite of everything that I know about Judge Kavanaugh and his character and what I have seen from him over the years.” She said that Kavanaugh had remained “a mentor, a close contact, somebody [whom] I go to for professional advice.”
Mascott was consistent in her support. Speaking in an interview with CNN shortly after his nomination in July, she said he “could be the most qualified nominee in generations.”
There has also been some critiques and objections to Kavanaugh’s nomination. Democratic Senators Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Dianne Feinstein, to name a few, have been consistently outspoken in their objection to Kavanaugh’s nomination.
The senators have said repeatedly that despite Kavanaugh’s work prior to his nomination, his potential appointment to the Supreme Court would be dangerous for women because of Kavanaugh’s beliefs surrounding abortion rights.
Fourth Estate reached out to Mascott for an interview, and Mascott initially agreed.
On Tuesday, Sept. 25, Kathleen M. Corcoran, the director of communications for Antonin Scalia Law School, said in an email to Fourth Estate, “The high volume of media requests for Professor Mascott over the past several weeks has become overwhelming … she has requested to take leave from all media opportunities at this time, that she may focus her energies on scholarship, research and teaching.”
Corcoran continued, “As a result, I regret to inform you that Professor Mascott cannot be interviewed for your story. She is making no exceptions at this time.”
This statement came in the wake of the second sexual misconduct allegation against Kavanaugh.
Since reaching out to Mascott, Dr. Blasey Ford, the first woman to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual assault, has testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Committee also voted to go forward to the entire senate with the nomination vote, but only after an FBI investigation is conducted in regards to the allegations and Kavanaugh’s background.
The FBI investigation has already began and will be completed within a week. The senate will vote on whether to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on Friday, Oct. 5.
