Accuser of court nominee comes forward
Kavanaugh alleged to have assaulted woman in 1980s
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court was thrust into turmoil Sunday after the woman accusing him of high school-era sexual misconduct told her story publicly for the first time. Democrats immediately called for a delay in a key committee vote set for this later week, and a Republican on the closely divided panel said he’s “not comfortable” voting on the nomination without first hearing from the accuser.
The woman, Christine Blasey Ford, told The Washington Post in her first interview that Judge Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed at a Maryland party they attended in the early 1980s, clumsily tried to remove her clothing and put his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream.
“I thought he might inadvertently kill me,” Ms. Ford said. “He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing.”
Ms. Ford, 51, a clinical psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California, says she was able to get away after a friend of Judge Kavanaugh’s who was in the room jumped on top of them and everyone tumbled.
Judge Kavanaugh, 53, a federal appeals judge in Washington, on Sunday repeated an earlier denial of Ms. Ford’s allegation.
“I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time,” Judge Kavanaugh said through the White House.
The allegation first came to
light late last week in the form of a letter that has been in the possession of Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, for some time.
The committee recently concluded four days of public hearings on the nomination and the panel’s Republican chairman, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, scheduled a Thursday vote on whether to recommend that the full Senate confirm Judge Kavanaugh for a lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court.
Democrats, led by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, immediately called for it to be postponed, though Republicans gave no indication Sunday that they would accede to the calls by Democrats, most of whom already publicly oppose Judge Kavanaugh.
A spokesman for the Senate Judiciary Committee said late Sunday that Mr. Grassley is trying to arrange separate, follow-up calls with Judge Kavanaugh and Ms. Ford, but just for aides to Mr. Grassley and Ms. Feinstein, before Thursday’s scheduled vote.
But Sen. Jeff Flake, RAriz., a committee member, told The Washington Post and Politico in interviews Sunday that he’s “not comfortable” voting for Judge Kavanaugh until he learns more about the allegation. Mr. Flake is one of 11 Republicans on the committee, whose 10 Democrats all oppose Judge Kavanaugh. A potential “no” vote from Mr. Flake would complicate Judge Kavanaugh’s prospects.
Another Republican member, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said he’s willing to hear from Ms. Ford provided that it’s “done immediately” to keep the confirmation process on track. Critics have accused the GOP of fast-tracking the process to get Judge Kavanaugh on the court by Oct. 1, the first day of the fall term.
Senate Republicans, along with the White House, see no need to postpone voting over what they consider uncorroborated and unverifiable accusations, according to a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly.
In considering their options Sunday, Republicans largely settled on the view that Ms. Ford’s story alone was not enough to delay Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Mr. Grassley could invite Ms. Ford to testify, likely in closed session before Thursday. Judge Kavanaugh also would probably be asked to appear before senators. The panel also would likely seek testimony from Mark Judge, Judge Kavanaugh’s friend and classmate who Ms. Ford says jumped on top of her and Judge Kavanaugh. Mr. Judge has denied that the incident happened.
Republicans have not settled on the strategy, the person familiar with the situation said, but were weighing options, including doing nothing.
Republicans say the allegations have already cast a shadow over Judge Kavanaugh but that it does not appear to be enough to change the votes in the narrowly divided 51-49 Senate. Key will be the views of Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who did not immediately comment publicly Sunday.