CNN contributor Rick Santorum has apologized after calling the ongoing investigation into Judge Brett Kavanaugh “bulls–t” on a live edition of Thursday’s “New Day.”
In a tweeted statement, the former Pennsylvania Senator didn’t walk-back the sentiment, but said he should not have used profanity.
“I apologize to the anchors on @CNN @NewDay and the viewers for using profanity during the show. No excuses,” he said. “Stand by substance of what I said, but not how I said it.”
I apologize to the anchors on @CNN @NewDay and the viewers for using profanity during the show. No excuses. Stand by substance of what I said, but not how I said it. #tcot
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) October 4, 2018
Santorum has been a senior political commentator for CNN since January 2017.
His on-air comment Thursday morning did not really interrupt debate between Santorum and “New Day” hosts Alisyn Camerota and John Berman, however. Santorum said it was ridiculous to start looking into Kavanaugh’s drinking in college saying that issue was completely different from the allegations of sexual misconduct of which he has been accused.
“He said he drank. He said he drank to excess. He said he didn’t black out,” said Santorum, saying there was no way for Kavanaugh’s old roommate to remember such personal details about the judge more than three decades later.
Camerota pushed back.
“If you are roommates with somebody and you say ‘hey last night where did you park the car?’ and your roommate says ‘I don’t remember I was too drunk,’ you know if your roommate has memory lapses,” she said.
“And you remember that from 35 years ago?” Santorum shot back. “Sorry bulls—.”
Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court was thrown into turmoil last month after multiple women came forward against him with accusations of sexual misconduct. He has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and an FBI investigation into the issue wrapped up late Wednesday evening and will be reviewed by Senate Judiciary committee members on Thursday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has signaled his intention to not make the report public.