Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) ripped Brett Kavanaugh on Monday as he delivered his first reaction to President Donald Trump‘s nominee for the Supreme Court.

Booker spoke to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow about the announcement — writing off Kavanaugh as “the one person [on Trump’s shortlist] that would be most assured to rule in [POTUS’s] favor.”

Booker also slammed Trump over Kavanaugh’s past opinions that presidents shouldn’t be investigated or indicted — which the senator connected to Trump’s self-interest in diminishing the ongoing Russia investigations.

“This seems to be the most self-serving person he could choose to protect himself from this criminal investigation,” Booker said.

When Maddow detailed Kavanaugh’s opinions and asked how they could factor into the Senate’s confirmation hearings, Booker said the process cannot be allowed to go forward, citing a “Constitutional crisis” that will occur if it does. The New Jersey Senator blasted Kavanuagh as a “political actor” and “get out of jail free card” who will protect Trump, advance the president’s agenda, and roll back rights and political victories progressives won in court over the years.

“The President of the United States has indemnified himself by picking the one person he knew would have his back,” Booked said. “The one person who would give him shield from anything that might come at him.”

Watch above, via MSNBC.

[Image via screengrab]

— —

>> Follow Ken Meyer (@KenMeyer91) on Twitter

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]