Trump’s Supreme Court nominee denies historical sex assault claim
THE successful confirmation of Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, has been plunged into doubt after members of Congress called to delay a vote on his candidacy in light of a claim of sexual assault.
Leading Democrats want the FBI to examine the allegation before a Senate committee votes on Mr Kavanaugh’s nomination to the highest court in the United States, while two Republican senators have also backed a delay until the accuser gives testimony.
The push to reschedule Thursday’s vote in the Senate judiciary committee came after Christine Blasey Ford, a California-based academic, went public with her account of an alleged assault in the early Eighties.
She said that Mr Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed during a student party and groped her while drunk, covering her mouth when she tried to scream as a friend of his watched until she was able to escape from the room.
Both Mrs Ford and Mr Kavanaugh were teenagers at the time. Mr Kavanaugh has “categorically and unequivocally” denied the allegation.
He also denied being at the high school party where the alleged incident took place, according to Orrin Hatch, a Republican senator who said he had spoken to the nominee.
Both Mr Kavanaugh and Mrs Ford are expected to attend a public hearing at the committee to discuss the claim next Monday.
The claim had been outlined in a letter to Dianne Feinstein, the leading Democrat on the judiciary committee, with a request for anonymity.
However, Mrs Ford decided to go public through The Washington Post after details of her claim begun to leak.
The allegation has thrown Mr Kavanaugh’s nomination process into chaos, as he appeared on track to be approved by the committee within days. A Senate vote would have followed.
Republican party leaders want the confirmation process wrapped up by November’s midterm elections, fearing the Democrats could win back a Senate majority and block the appointment. Since Mrs Ford went public there has been growing bipartisan pressure in Washington to delay the vote.
Ms Feinstein, the Democrat senator from California, called for a delay until an investigation was complete.
Jeff Flake, the Republican senator who sits on the committee, said: “I’ve made it clear that I’m not comfortable moving ahead with the vote … if we have not heard her [Mrs Ford’s] side of the story or explored this further.”
Mr Trump yesterday opened the door to the vote being pushed back, saying: “If it takes a little delay, it’ll take a little delay.”
The president said there should be a “full process” with the chance to “hear everybody out”, an apparent backing of Mrs Ford’s right to testify.
He also defended Mr Kavanaugh’s reputation, saying: “He is one of the great intellects and one of the finest people that anybody has known.”
Asked if Mr Kavanaugh had offered to withdraw, Mr Trump said the question
‘I’ve made it clear I’m not comfortable moving ahead with the vote if we’ve not heard her side of the story’
was “ridiculous”.
Yesterday Debra Katz, Mrs Ford’s lawyer, said she was willing to speak to the committee about her allegation.
Mr Kavanaugh also said he would be willing to speak as he issued a new denial.
In a statement circulated by the White House, he said: “This is a completely false allegation.
“I have never done anything like what the accuser describes – to her or to anyone. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday.
“I am willing to talk to the Senate judiciary committee in any way the committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.”