Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has denied new accusations that he forced himself on a woman in high school.
Kavanaugh is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, with an unidentified woman writing in a newly-reported letter to her Democratic congresswoman that he tried to take advantage of her during a party more than 30 years ago, according to a report.
The New Yorker reported Friday that the incident occurred in the early 1980s, when Kavanaugh was a student at Georgetown Preparatory School, an all-boys school in Bethesda, Md. The woman, meanwhile, went to a local high school.
The woman said in a letter sent to Democratic lawmakers this summer that during a party, Kavanaugh held her down and tried to force himself on her, according to The New Yorker.
Kavanaugh and his classmate, who were drinking, increased the volume of the music that was playing to hide her protests, the letter reportedly says. Kavanaugh allegedly used his hand to cover the woman’s mouth, before she was able to escape.
“I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation,” Kavanaugh said in a statement. “I did not do this back in high school or at any time.”
The classmate of Kavanaugh’s who was allegedly involved in the encounter said, “I have no recollection of that,” according to The New Yorker.
The encounter was detailed in a letter the unidentified woman sent to Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., after President Trump nominated Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office also received the letter and the woman reached out to the California Democrat’s office.
After communicating with Eshoo’s and Feinstein’s office, the woman reportedly chose not to speak out about the incident.
[Opinion: Dianne Feinstein’s announcement about Brett Kavanaugh and the FBI smells like a political stunt]
A source told The New Yorker that staff for Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, informed other Democrats’ offices the encounter happened too long ago to warrant public discussion.
Feinstein addressed the letter in a statement Thursday, though she did not provide any information regarding its contents.
Rather, Feinstein said she received information from an individual regarding Kavanaugh and referred the matter to federal authorities.
“That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision,” the California senator said in a statement.
Shortly after the details of the letter were made public by The New Yorker, the Senate Judiciary Committee shared a letter it received Friday from 65 women who knew Kavanaugh during their high school years.
“Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity,” the women wrote. “In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination Thursday. The committee is thus far expected to move forward with its vote as planned.
