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President Donald Trump apologized to new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his family for the “terrible pain and suffering” they have been “forced to endure.” “Those who step forward to serve our country deserve a fair and dignified evaluation, not a campaign of personal and political destruction based on lies and deception,” the president said in a swearing-in ceremony for Kavanaugh in the White House’s East Room on Monday evening. “What happened to the Kavanaugh family violates every notion of fairness, decency and due process.” Trump continued, and told Kavanaugh, “I must state that you, sir, under historic scrutiny, were proven innocent.” Kavanaugh’s confirmation process was delayed due to sexual-assault and misconduct allegations from Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and others. A public hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee and an FBI supplemental background check were both pursued in reaction to the accusations. At the Monday ceremony, Kavanaugh said the Senate confirmation process was “contentious and emotional.” “I take this office with gratitude and no bitterness,” he said.