Trump backs judge

Republicans behind US court nominee accused of sex assault

REPUBLICANS fought yesterday to keep a second woman’s allegation of historical sexual misconduct from derailing Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination.

The President leapt to his defence, the top Senate Republican accused Democrats of a “smear campaign”, and Mr Kavanaugh pledged to fight, saying, “I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone.”

That declaration, remarkable for a nominee to the highest court in the US, came as Republicans embraced their newly aggressive stance.

The similar tones and wording they used in defending him suggested a concerted effort to undermine the women’s claims and portray an image of unity among GOP senators while pressing toward a confirmation vote.

In the run-up to an appearance by Mr Kavanaugh and his main accuser at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Donald Trump called the accusations “totally political” and among “the single most unfair, unjust things to happen to a candidate for anything”.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of slinging “all the mud they could manufacture” and promised a full Senate vote soon.

Mr Trump has made clear he won’t order an FBI probe. Mr McConnell said Thursday’s Judiciary Committee hearing would proceed, and No.2 Senate GOP leader, John Cornyn of Texas, said the panel could vote on sending Mr Kavanaugh’s nomination to the full Senate as early as Friday.

Mr Kavanaugh, 53, is a judge on the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals.

The New Yorker magazine reported on Sunday that Deborah Ramirez described a 1980s, alcohol-heavy Yale dormitory party at which she said Mr Kavanaugh exposed himself. It follows Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation that Mr Kavanaugh tried removing her clothes during a high school party.