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President Trump’s judicial nominee to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Eric Chunyee Tung, faced an intense line of questioning during his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. On July 30, Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla grilled Tung over controversial writings from his college years, including past views on gender roles and labor unions. In a moment that sparked laughter and surprise, Republican Senator John Kennedy jumped in—first appearing to defend Tung with deadpan humour, then pivoting to press him on free speech issues. Tung repeatedly emphasised the transformation that occurs when one “puts on the robe,” pledging fairness and impartiality in all cases.
