Matthew Kacsmaryk, a far-right Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas who authored the opinion revoking the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, has come under fire for failing to disclose interviews he gave on Christian talk radio during his Senate confirmation process. In these interviews, Kacsmaryk referred to being gay as "a lifestyle" and expressed concerns that new norms for "people who experience same-sex attraction" would lead to clashes with religious institutions.
The transcript supplied by CNN appears to track with the audio and accurately recounts his responses during the phone call. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has also been questioned about her knowledge of these concealed records.
During one interview, which was not disclosed at the time of his confirmation hearings, Kacsmaryk discussed how changing societal attitudes towards people who identify as LGBTQ+ could potentially threaten religious freedom.
"The rise of sexual autonomy is creating tensions between those two worlds," said Kacsmaryk in reference to secular society and faith-based organizations. He went on to say that this shift in cultural values could result in an erosion of traditional religious beliefs held by many Americans.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who voted for Kacsmaryk's confirmation despite her pro-LGBTQ+ voting record, has been asked whether she knew about these undisclosed interviews before casting her vote. While Sen. Murkowski did not comment specifically on this matter, she reaffirmed her commitment to promoting inclusivity: "My voting record reflects my support for civil rights protections for all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."
The revelation comes amidst ongoing scrutiny over Judge Kacsmaryk's recent decision involving mifepristone – a ruling that sparked criticism from reproductive rights advocates across the nation.
Now that it has come to light that Judge Kacsmaryk failed to disclose these interviews, the Supreme Court is currently weighing whether to block the entire ruling. The court's decision could have significant implications for abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights moving forward.
As more information about Kacsmaryk's undisclosed interviews comes to light, it remains uncertain how this revelation will impact his tenure as a federal judge and what consequences may arise from his failure to fully disclose potentially controversial views during his confirmation process.