Kavanaugh vows that he won’t let accusations deter him
Nominee says claims of misconduct untrue
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh declared in a televised interview Monday that he never sexually assaulted anyone in high school or at any other time in his life, a declaration that was seen as remarkable for a contender to the nation’s highest court.
Judge Kavanaugh and his wife, Ashley, sat down for an interview with Fox News Channel’s “The Story with Martha MacCallum” after a second woman accused him of sexual misconduct.
Christine Blasey Ford has accused Judge Kavanaugh of assaulting her at a party when they were teenagers. Judge Kavanaugh denied he was “at any such party.” He said he did not question that perhaps Ms. Ford at some point in her life was sexually assaulted, “but what I know is I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone.”
Judge Kavanaugh said it’s possible he may have met Ms. Ford at some time, but he said they were not friends and did not travel in the
same social circles.
“I was not at the party described,” Judge Kavanaugh said.
Judge Kavanaugh was asked if there was any chance Ms. Ford misunderstood an exchange between them.
“I have never had any sexual or physical activity with Dr. Ford,” Judge Kavanaugh said. “I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone, in high school or otherwise.”
The second woman, Deborah Ramirez, has accused Judge Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her at a Yale dormitory party, putting his genitalia in her face and causing her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away.
Judge Kavanaugh said Monday, “I never did any such thing.”
“If such a thing had happened, it would have been the talk of campus,” Judge Kavanaugh said.
It’s rare for nominees to the Supreme Court to give interviews. Russell Wheeler, an expert on the judicial selection process at the Brookings Institution, said he is unaware of a similar media interview by a Supreme Court nominee in the past 100 years.
But there’s nothing ordinary about the stakes and circumstances of Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, with Republicans fighting to get him on the court by the end of September and cement a conservative-leaning court for years to come.
President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell say they are determined to get Judge Kavanaugh on the court, calling the allegations against him false and politically motivated. Judge Kavanaugh was defiant as well.
“I’m not going to let false accusations drive us out of this process,” Judge Kavanaugh said.
Democrats have accused Republicans of not conducting a thorough review in their rush to get Judge Kavanaugh confirmed. They want the FBI to reopen its background investigation. Mr. Trump has made clear he won’t order an FBI probe.
Ms. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh are set to testify Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In the Fox interview Judge Kavanaugh got a taste of the personal questions he’ll face from senators. Ms. MacCallum asked him how long he was a virgin in college, after he volunteered that he never had sex in high school.
“Many years after. I’ll leave it at that,” Judge Kavanaugh said.
Ms. Kavanaugh was asked whether she wondered if her husband was telling the truth about the allegations against him. “No, I know Brett. I’ve known him for 17 years,” she said, adding: “I know his heart. This is not consistent with Brett.”
Judge Kavanaugh appeared to get emotional at the end of the interview. He said Mr. Trump called him in the afternoon to show his support.
“I know he’s going to stand by me,” Judge Kavanaugh said.
Judge Kavanaugh also responded to the misconduct charges Monday with a fierce letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
“I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process,” Judge Kavanaugh wrote. “The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. The lastminute character assassination will not succeed.”