Top Trump prospect for open Supreme Court seat claims presidents are above prosecution and investigations: report

A leading contender to be appointed to the Supreme Court is a highly partisan Republican who holds an extremist view of presidential power, according to a Washington Post story analyzing his credentials.

Brett M. Kavanaugh was a clerk for retiring Justice Anthony M. Kennedy and now serves on the District of Columbia Circuit court.

In the past, he's argued that the president should not be distracted by civil lawsuits, criminal investigations or even questions from attorneys while in office.

But, despite that stance, Kavanaugh worked under Ken Starr as one of the attorneys investigating Bill Clinton.

Despite the fact that the Republican judge worked on the legal attack mounted against Clinton, he has more recently written a law review article offering an extremist view of presidential power.

A president should not have to face “time-consuming and distracting” investigations or lawsuits because they “ill serve the public interest, especially in times of financial or national security crisis.”

Kavanaugh was appointed to the federal bench by George W. Bush and Democrats attempted to block him because of his youth, inexperience and highly partisan work. They were ultimately unsuccessful.

Kavanaugh is a Roman Catholic who opposes abortion rights.