President Trump accused Democrats of playing a “con game” regarding the sexual misconduct allegations lodged against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
“This is a con game being played by the Democrats,” Trump told reporters before meeting with the president of Colombia on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Two women, Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez, accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct dating back more than three decades ago.
The second allegation, from Ramirez, was brought to light just days before Kavanaugh and Ford are expected to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Ramirez told The New Yorker magazine that Kavanaugh exposed himself during a drunken party at Yale University during the 1983-1984 school year.
Kavanaugh has denied both Ford’s and Ramirez’s allegations.
[Also read: Kavanaugh became ‘aggressive,’ ‘belligerent’ when drinking, says Yale freshman roommate]
Trump cast doubt on the validity of the claims, noting they are “totally unsubstantiated,” and particularly took issue with Ramirez’s allegation.
“She says well it might not be him, and there were gaps, and she was totally inebriated, and she was all messed up and does know it was him, but it might have been him,” Trump said. “Oh gee, let’s not make him a Supreme Court judge because of that.”
Since Ford came forward about the alleged incident involving Kavanaugh, which she said happened during a house party in 1982, Trump has continued to defend his nominee to the Supreme Court.
But the president acknowledged that Ford should be given the chance speak out about the allegation, with that opportunity coming Thursday.
His rhetoric regarding the accusations, though, shifted over the last few days, as he called into question why Ford didn’t file a report with local police after the alleged sexual assault.
On Tuesday, he continued to question the credibility of Ramirez, in particular.
“This is a person and this is a series of statements that is going to take one of the most talented intellects from a judicial standpoint in our country—keep him off the U.S. Supreme Court?” Trump said. “He has the chance to be one of the greatest justices in the United States Supreme Court. What a shame. His wife is devastated, his children are devastated. I don’t mean, ‘Oh gee, I am a little unhappy.’ They are devastated. And it is because of these Democrats.”
Trump accused Democrats of trying to make Kavanaugh into “something he is not” and said the nominee was “so truthful” during an interview Monday with Fox News.
During that interview, Kavanaugh repeatedly asserted that he has never sexually assaulted anyone.
