Joni Ernst (R - IA) Definitely Yes
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October 4: It is clear that the 7th nonpartisan FBI investigation of Judge Kavanaugh found no new information, no corroboration of any allegations and no indication of misconduct. My support for Judge Kavanaugh remains strong. (Twitter)
October 2: Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who has said she faced sexual harassment when she served in the military and has been an advocate for victims, said on CBS’s “This Morning” on Tuesday she will look at the FBI report for any evidence to corroborate Ford’s accusations. “And if not, I will continue to support Judge Kavanaugh based on the information that I have at this time,” Ernst said. “We are innocent until proven guilty in this great country. . . . She has suffered from something very traumatic in her lifetime, but simply the corroboration wasn’t there.” (The Washington Post)
September 28: The junior Iowa senator was asked during a brief television interview on Fox News whether she had a message for Kavanaugh, whose nomination is now eligible for a full floor vote but will be delayed until an additional federal investigation is completed. “I would say to him, stay strong, I would say, continue on with the push forward and I would also say, 'God keep you and bless you,' because I do know how painful this process can be," she said...Ernst added during the Fox News interview: "I do hope that we can move through this process as soon as we can and again we'll have to turn to our leadership." (Des Moines Register)
September 18: Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says “every accuser should be heard.” She’s withholding judgment on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh until after Monday’s senate hearing to examine the sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh. “I need to hear what’s going to come out on Monday. I can’t say whether the source is credible or not credible. I don’t know that, but I do believe that if she is accusing him of something so egregious, she needs to be heard,” Ernst told Radio Iowa earlier this afternoon. “Every accuser should be heard.”...“I think that any accuser needs to have his or her voice heard…It’s important that we hear not only from the accuser, but from Judge Kavanaugh,” Ernst said. “He should be able to rebut anything that’s said.”...Ernst faulted Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the panel, for failing to alert Grassley this summer when Feinstein first learned of the allegations. “He’s done so much work on whistleblowers and protecting their privacy…I know that if this woman had brought her information forward to Senator Grassley he would have wanted to get to the bottom of it,” Ernst told Radio Iowa. “Unfortunately, it’s being used as a political football right now and brought up at the very last-minute instead of during the hearing process when it should have come out and they could have questioned Judge Kavanaugh on the information.” (RadioIowa.com)
July 25: Mr. President, I rise today to voice my support for the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States...I am especially impressed by Judge Kavanaugh's interpretation of the Constitution as it applies to the ever-encroaching power of federal agencies. (YouTube)
July 9: Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a highly-qualified, well-respected justice committed to the rule of law. He deserves a respectful and timely confirmation and I stand ready to offer advice and consent to Judge Kavanaugh as he moves through the confirmation process. With Iowa’s Sr. Sen., Chuck Grassley, as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, we have a phenomenal leader overseeing the process to make sure it is smooth & timely. I look forward to the opportunity to confirm Justice Kennedy’s successor, Judge Kavanaugh, to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Twitter)