During an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Hillary Clinton said President Donald Trump's behavior during the confirmation process was emblematic of a disrespect for women that he's demonstrated for years. | Alex Wong/Getty Images Kavanaugh Confirmation Hillary Clinton calls Kavanaugh's ceremonial swearing-in a 'political rally'

Hillary Clinton labeled Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's ceremonial swearing-in at the White House on Monday a "political rally" that "undermined the image and integrity" of the Supreme Court.

"It saddens me because our judicial system has been viewed as one of the main pillars of our constitutional government," Clinton said during an interview over the weekend with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.


President Donald Trump ceremonially swore in Kavanaugh at the White House on Monday, days after the Senate confirmed his nomination with a 50-48 vote Saturday afternoon, concluding one of the most dramatic and partisan confirmation processes in the court's history. Kavanaugh was officially sworn in Saturday by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Though the court has traditionally endeavored to float above partisan politics, Kavanaugh's confirmation process was mired with accusations from both parties of manipulation. Kavanaugh was accused during the confirmation process of having sexually assaulted multiple women, allegations he adamantly denied. Trump and other Kavanaugh allies have accused Democrats of orchestrating a smear campaign to derail the justice's confirmation.

The confirmation process was also a reckoning moment for the Me Too movement, as the Senate's approval of Kavanaugh was characterized by many on the left as a dismissal of sexual assault allegations. Opponents of Kavanaugh's confirmation complained that the FBI's inquiry into allegations against him was inadequate, while protesters confronted senators with stories of sexual assault and demands that the nomination be rejected. Many Republicans disregarded the protesters as an orchestrated liberal intimidation effort.

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Trump also earned severe criticism after he mocked Christine Blasey Ford, who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school, at a rally in Mississippi last week. Drawing cheers from the crowd of rallygoers, Trump imitated Ford attempting to recount the details of a party she said occurred more than 30 years ago.

During her interview with Amanpour, Clinton said Trump's behavior during the confirmation process was emblematic of a disrespect for women that he's demonstrated for years.

"The president has been true to form," Clinton said. "He has insulted, attacked, demeaned women throughout the campaign, really for many years leading up to the campaign, and he's continued to do that inside the White House."

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that the interview with Clinton was conducted on Tuesday.