US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sought to put a bruising confirmation battle behind him on Monday at a White House ceremony in which President Donald Trump declared him innocent of sexual misconduct and apologized for the heated process.
"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," Trump said at the start of a ceremonial swearing-in in the East Room of the White House.
Kavanaugh's confirmation process exploded in controversy after California university professor Christine Blasey Ford went public with allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982, while they were in high school.
Brett Kavanaugh (C), retired Justice Anthony Kennedy (R) listen to US President Donald Trump's speech during the swearing-in ceremony of Brett Kavanaugh as the US Supreme Court Justice at the White House in Washington, DC, October 8, 2018. /VCG Photo
Kavanaugh gave a forceful and emotional denial of those allegations during testimony before lawmakers that some Democrats said showed a lack of judicial temperament. The US Senate voted 50-48 on Saturday to confirm him, with just one Democrat supporting him.
Kavanaugh said on Monday that he was starting his new job without bitterness, seeking to set a new tone after the divisive process.
"The Senate confirmation process was contentious and emotional. That process is over. My focus now is to be the best justice I can be," he said with his wife and children standing nearby.
During the preparation of the swearing-in ceremony, Trump had called sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh a "hoax."
Women demonstrators protest against the appointment of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at the US Capitol in Washington DC, October 6, 2018. /VCG Photo
Boarding the Marine One helicopter at the White House ahead of a trip to Florida, he branded the sexual assault allegations that threatened to derail Kavanaugh's path to the top court "a hoax" and "all made up, fabricated."
Democrats, Trump said, "tortured him (Kavanaugh) and his family. I thought it was a disgrace."
The president, whose Republicans fear losing at least the lower chamber of Congress in November, angrily predicted that the Kavanaugh row would backfire on Democrats.
"I think a lot of Democrats are going to vote Republican," he said. "I think you're going to see a lot of things happening on November 6 that wouldn't have."
Democrats fought tooth and nail to stop Kavanaugh's candidacy, claiming that the accomplished, conservative-minded judge was not suited to the Supreme Court, which will now tilt decisively to a more Republican-friendly panel.
(Cover: US President Donald Trump (L) speaks during the swearing-in ceremony of Brett Kavanaugh (C) at the White House in Washington, DC, October 8, 2018. /VCG Photo)
(With input from agencies)