Kavanaugh furiously rejects sex assault claims
Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, said sexual misconduct claims had “destroyed” his reputation and accused Democrats of a character assassination. It came after testimony by Christine Blasey Ford, a professor, accusing him of sex assault at a party in 1982.
BRETT KAVANAUGH yesterday called his confirmation process for the US Supreme Court a “national disgrace” which had “permanently destroyed” his reputation.
Speaking through tears, Mr Kavanaugh furiously denied allegations of sexual assault as he accused Democrats of orchestrating a “grotesque and coordinated character assassination”.
He said the claims had put him “through hell and then some” in the past fortnight, and warned “the whole country will reap the whirlwind” if they are allowed to take down his nomination during a historic hearing in Washington, DC, which was broadcast live to millions of Americans.
The extraordinary testimony came just hours after Christine Blasey Ford, his accuser and California professor, appeared before the same Senate Judiciary Committee to outline an alleged sexual assault from 1982.
Prof Ford, her voice cracking at times, described how she was allegedly pinned to a bed by Mr Kavanaugh at a party as he drunkenly groped her and attempted to take off her clothes.
She said she feared rape and being “accidentally” killed when Mr Kavanaugh allegedly covered her mouth after she screamed, adding she was “100 per cent” certain that he was the man who carried out the assault.
Prof Ford said she was only able to escape when Mark Judge, a friend of Mr Kavanaugh’s who she alleges was in the room, jumped on the pair, allowing her to run out. Mr Judge has denied the claims but refused to give evidence.
The emotional testimony from both appeared to split the senators on the committee and left Mr Kavanaugh’s nomination hanging in the balance. Ultimately a majority of the US Senate must vote yes for him to be confirmed.
Some Democratic senators said that Prof Ford had proved a “credible” witness and that they believed her claims, noting she made them privately before Mr Kavanaugh had been nominated and had little to gain from going public.
Republicans rowed behind him. Lindsey Graham, a senator close to Donald Trump, called the treatment of Mr Kavanaugh the “most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics” and pledged to vote yes to his nomination.
Mr Graham’s intervention was cheered by some senior White House figures on Twitter.
Mr Trump tweeted seconds after the hearing ended: “Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats’ search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote!”
The dramatic hearing on Capitol Hill came as Mr Kavanaugh attempted to fill the open seat on the Supreme Court, a lifetime appointment that would allow him to shape American society for gen- erations to come. Selected by Mr Trump, Mr Kavanaugh had been cruising to confirmation until Prof Ford went public. She was followed by Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, who made accusations of sexual misconduct.
For a fortnight Mr Kavanaugh, 53, has remained largely quiet, issuing measured statements denying committing sexual assault. Even a recent Fox News interview, unprecedented in modern confirmation hearings, saw him remain calm and restrained.
But when he appeared before senators after Prof Ford’s testimony, Mr Kavanaugh made clear the anger he felt over the allegations, how late they had emerged in his confirmation process and how Democrats had handled them.
“This confirmation has become a national disgrace. The constitution gives the Senate an important role, but you have replaced advice and consent with search and destroy,” he said.
Mr Kavanaugh broke down repeatedly during his opening statement, which lasted close to an hour, often pausing to sip water and regain his composure. His wife, Ashley, and his parents looked on in the row behind, also appearing to hold back tears.
Mr Kavanaugh said: “This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fuelled with a pent-up anger about President Trump, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record, revenge on behalf of the Clintons and millions of dollars from outside, leftwing opposition groups.
“This is a circus. The consequences will extend long past my nomination. This grotesque and coordinated character assassination will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from serving our country.”
He admitted he had drunk beer during his high school years, and sometimes had “too many”, but repeatedly said he never sexually assaulted anyone.
Mr Kavanaugh categorically denied ever having been in a room alone with Prof Ford and Mr Judge, ever covering Prof Ford’s mouth with his hand or trying to remove her clothes.
The testimony contradicted that of Prof Ford, who said she was “terrified” to speak publicly but thought it was her “civic duty” to do so. Democrats called for the FBI to investigate, but the Republicans rejected the calls.