Cory Booker moves Ketanji Brown Jackson to tears as he boosts her history-making Supreme Court nomination: 'Nobody is taking this away from you'

Booker moved Judge Jackson to tears on Wednesday, shifting the focus to the historic nature of Jackson's nomination as the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court.

Booker told Jackson that he had five more of them. Republican lawmakers spent the day tearing into Jackson's record, suggesting she has been soft on child pornography and terrorism.

Booker told his sister to not worry, God has got you. I know what it takes for you to sit in that seat.

—CSPAN (@cspan) March 23, 2022

The first Black woman to serve on the federal bench was brought up by Booker, who ran for president in 2020. During her confirmation process, a civil rights icon was accused of being a communist. He talked about Tubman, who was an activist in the Underground Railroad.

Booker said that Tubman was viciously beaten and faced starvation. Rest? She went back again and again. The sky was full of stars, but she found one that was a sign of hope for better days, not just for her and those people that were enslaved, but a sign of hope for this country.

Booker said he has thought about Tubman as Jackson's nomination is considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

He told Jackson that he thought about her and how she looked up. The star was a sign of hope. You are my star today. You are a sign of hope.

Booker brushed off his shoulder. During his historic 2008 presidential run, President Barack Obama mentioned Jay-Z's rap about brushing dirt off your shoulders. Booker told Jackson not to worry. He said that the senators could theoretically yell "Beyonce can't sing" but the very utterance of such a claim wouldn't make it true.

Booker said his colleagues criticism would not steal his joy and that nobody would take this away from Jackson.

Whitehouse thanked Booker for changing the tone of the day.

Booker grew emotional as he talked about how he would react if Jackson is confirmed, a likely outcome given that she can be confirmed by Democratic votes alone.

He said that when you ascend onto the highest court in the land, he would be happy.