Key facts
- Kara Westercamp, a White House lawyer, was confirmed to a judgeship on the U.S. Court of International Trade.
- The Senate confirmed Westercamp by a vote of 50-48.
- Westercamp had previously posted social media attacks on various senators, including Republicans.
- She apologized for these posts during her confirmation hearing.
- Republican Senator Susan Collins voted against her confirmation.
Kara Westercamp, a White House lawyer nominated by President Donald Trump, has been confirmed to a lifetime judgeship on the U.S. Court of International Trade. The Senate voted 50-48 in favor of her confirmation, with Republican Senator Susan Collins joining Democratic lawmakers in opposition. Two Republican senators did not vote.
Westercamp's confirmation followed scrutiny over her past social media posts, which included attacks on various senators, such as referring to Senator Mitch McConnell as "Cocaine Mitch" and calling Senator Lindsey Graham "weak-ass." These posts, along with her role advising Trump on tariff policies, became central to the debate surrounding her nomination.
During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Westercamp apologized for her "prolific, inflammatory" social media posts, stating they were made in her personal capacity while she worked at the Department of Justice. She expressed regret for using Twitter for political opinions and controversial topics. She also addressed posts that suggested law enforcement or Antifa were complicit in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, condemning all violence that occurred that day.
Westercamp, an associate counsel in the White House, was touted by Trump as an "experienced Trade Lawyer" involved with the "America First Agenda." Her nomination came shortly before the Supreme Court struck down some of Trump's global tariffs. She has stated she was not involved in the initial formulation of the tariffs at issue in that Supreme Court case but did work on related executive orders. She has vowed to recuse herself from matters she handled while at the White House Counsel’s Office.