An attorney for Deborah Ramirez, the second woman to accuse Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, said his client wants a “meaningful law enforcement investigation” and that Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans keep changing to rules for discussing her allegations.
“This is not something that can be done via the Senate or some hired gun prosecutor that wants to cross-examine either Ms. Ford or Ms. Ramirez. This has to be by the FBI, who can investigate the matter with the threat of perjury. Our client’s willing to do that,” said John Clune in an interview with CNN.
He does not, however, want his client to just submit testimony and evidence to the Senate Judiciary Committee, he said. Committee member Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., had said earlier Tuesday that Ramirez’ attorney said she would not issue a statement for the committee.
“If they’re intending to have grilling from the senators or grilling from some other individual, that kind of cross-examination cannot be a replacement for a meaningful investigation,” Clune said.
Clune pointed the finger at Republicans, however, for being uncooperative.
“Every time we try to set up a phone call, the majority party either changes the rules of the phone call or they want additional information as a condition of even having a phone call with us,” said Clune. Republicans, he said, want a list of all the evidence Ramierez has as a condition of a phone call.
He said that only Democratic committee members participated earlier Tuesday evening in a scheduled phone call.
“It feels like there’s a lot of game-playing that’s going on right now by the majority party, and we just want to be able to talk to them and find out what is it they’re contemplating about how this will be investigated or how Debbie could provide her information to the Senate,” Clune said.
Clune also said his client, who has faced criticism for her incomplete memory of the incident because she was drinking, “is probably the most careful and conscientious client that I’ve ever represented. She is very adamant that she’s not going to put forward information that she doesn’t actually recall and doesn’t think it’s something she can rely on.”
Ramirez claims Kavanaugh exposed himself and flashed his naked penis in her face, forcing her to push him away and inadvertently touch it, during a party while the two were freshmen at Yale University.
