US President Donald Trump has apologized on behalf of the country to his new conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh – who was accused of sexual assault and misconduct by several women – over his highly contentious confirmation process.
Trump stood next to Kavanaugh at a White House swearing-in ceremony on Monday and said the newly-appointed Supreme Court justice had been “proven innocent” of the sexual assault allegations.
“On behalf of our nation, I want to apologize to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family for the terrible pain and suffering you have been forced to endure,” he said at the ceremony.
Earlier in the day, the US president had dismissed the allegations against Kavanaugh as “a hoax that was set up by the Democrats.”
Trump had also denounced the Kavanaugh row as “a disgraceful situation brought about by people who are evil,” and called the result “very exciting.”
