Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley’s office announced late Sunday evening that his panel will “attempt to evaluate” new sexual misconduct claims levied against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and accused Senate Democrats of withholding information until “politically opportune moments.”
Sticking by President Trump’s nominee, a statement sent to the media by communications director Taylor Foy said, “It increasingly appears that [Senate Democrats] are more interested in a political takedown than pursuing allegations through a bipartisan and professional investigative process.”
He added: “Of course, we will attempt to evaluate these new claims.”
Two new troubling accusations were revealed Sunday evening. At least four Democratic senators were given information about a woman, Deborah Ramirez, regarding a sexual assault that dates back to when the judge was a freshman at Yale University. Ramirez alleges Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a college party, put his penis in her face, and forced her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away, according to a report Sunday evening by the New Yorker. Kavanaugh denied the allegation, calling it a “smear.”
The report said two Democrats had already begun investigating the allegation and that GOP Senate staffers learned of the new allegation last week and appeared concerned that it could sink his nomination. They then tried to move up the timing of a committee vote on Kavanaugh.
Following the release of this report, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, called for an immediate halt to the Kavanaugh confirmation process in order for an FBI inquiry to take place.
Just before the New Yorker published its story, Michael Avenatti, porn star Stormy Daniels’ high-profile lawyer, implicated Kavanaugh in an alleged scheme in the early 1980s in which alcohol and drugs were used to take advantage of women at parties. Avenatti, who said he referred this “significant evidence” to the Senate Judiciary Committee, noted he is representing a woman who is not Ramirez.
The Judiciary Committee released separate statements addressing the two allegations.
On Ramirez allegations: “The committee’s majority staff learned the allegations made by Deborah Ramirez about Judge Kavanaugh from this evening’s New Yorker report. Neither she nor her legal representative have contacted the chairman’s office. The article reports that Democratic staff were aware of these allegations, but they never informed Republican staff.”
And on the Avenatti tweet: “Shortly after Mr. Avenatti announced that he may have information pertinent to the committee’s consideration of the Supreme Court nomination, the chairman’s office emailed him directly to request any relevant information he might have. Mr. Avenatti publicly Tweeted his response to committee staff. The committee staff requested that Mr. Avenatti provide any evidence that he claims to have.”
The White House stood by Trump’s nominee Sunday night.
“This 35-year-old, uncorroborated claim is the latest in a coordinated smear campaign by the Democrats designed to tear down a good man. This claim is denied by all who were said to be present and is wholly inconsistent with what many women and men who knew Judge Kavanaugh at the time in college say. The White House stands firmly behind Judge Kavanaugh,” spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said in a statement.
Until Sunday evening, Kavanaugh faced only a single sexual assault allegation by a California professor, Christine Blasey Ford, who says he drunkenly forced himself on her at a Maryland party while they were both in high school during the early 1980s. Kavanaugh vehemently denied that allegation. Ford is scheduled to testify before the committee Thursday. Kavanaugh, who denies the allegation, is set to testify again afterwards.
“I look forward to testifying on Thursday about the truth, and defending my good name — and the reputation for character and integrity I have spent a lifetime building — against these last-minute allegations,” Kavanaugh said Sunday evening.
