Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday defended Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh from what he said were “vague” and “unsubstantiated” claims that he committed or attempted sexual assault against two women when he was a teenager.

“The American people know that sexual misconduct is gravely serious,” McConnell, R-Ky., said in a Tuesday floor speech. “They expect this to be treated seriously and addressed promptly. But the American people also insist that vague, unsubstantiated and uncorroborated allegations of 30-plus-year old misconduct where all the supposed witnesses either totally deny it or can’t confirm it is nowhere near the grounds for to nullify someone’s career or destroy their good name.”