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Trump Says if Attack on Kavanaugh Accuser Was ‘as Bad as She Says,’ Charges Would Have Been Filed Trump Says if Attack on Kavanaugh Accuser Was ‘as Bad as She Says,’ Charges Would Have Been Filed
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday questioned the credibility of the woman who has said Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her while they were both teenagers. The president said that if the attack “was as bad as she says,” it would have been reported to the authorities.WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday questioned the credibility of the woman who has said Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her while they were both teenagers. The president said that if the attack “was as bad as she says,” it would have been reported to the authorities.
Attacking the woman, Christine Blasey Ford, directly for the first time after days of atypical restraint, the president challenged her to produce contemporaneous law enforcement reports “so that we can learn date, time, and place!”Attacking the woman, Christine Blasey Ford, directly for the first time after days of atypical restraint, the president challenged her to produce contemporaneous law enforcement reports “so that we can learn date, time, and place!”
Dr. Blasey, who was around 15 at the time of the alleged assault, has said publicly that she did not report the episode to the authorities, and that she does not recall exactly when it took place. Many women are reluctant to come forward and report sexual assaults, in part because they fear they will not be believed.Dr. Blasey, who was around 15 at the time of the alleged assault, has said publicly that she did not report the episode to the authorities, and that she does not recall exactly when it took place. Many women are reluctant to come forward and report sexual assaults, in part because they fear they will not be believed.
In taking to Twitter, Mr. Trump did what his aides had feared for a week: He questioned, before hearing a full account, the veracity of a woman who had alleged a sexual assault. In doing so, he risked further inflaming the bitter divisions between Democrats and Republicans over Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, as well as further energizing female voters in the midterm elections against the Republican Party.In taking to Twitter, Mr. Trump did what his aides had feared for a week: He questioned, before hearing a full account, the veracity of a woman who had alleged a sexual assault. In doing so, he risked further inflaming the bitter divisions between Democrats and Republicans over Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, as well as further energizing female voters in the midterm elections against the Republican Party.
Until Friday, Mr. Trump — who himself has faced sexual misconduct allegations — had largely left it to senators on the Judiciary Committee to handle Dr. Blasey’s allegations. She has said that at a high school party in the early 1980s, Mr. Kavanaugh pushed her onto a bed, groped her, tried to take off her clothes and covered her mouth to prevent her from crying for help. Judge Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied the accusations.Until Friday, Mr. Trump — who himself has faced sexual misconduct allegations — had largely left it to senators on the Judiciary Committee to handle Dr. Blasey’s allegations. She has said that at a high school party in the early 1980s, Mr. Kavanaugh pushed her onto a bed, groped her, tried to take off her clothes and covered her mouth to prevent her from crying for help. Judge Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied the accusations.
[Experts say long delays in reporting or a foggy recall are hallmarks of sexual assault.][Experts say long delays in reporting or a foggy recall are hallmarks of sexual assault.]
Both Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh have said they are willing to provide sworn testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Dr. Blasey was in negotiations over the conditions for an appearance by her. Both Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh have said they are willing to provide sworn testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Dr. Blasey was in negotiations on Friday over the conditions for any appearance by her.
But before she had provided any testimony, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, assured an audience of conservative Christians on Friday that Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation would go through.But before she had provided any testimony, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, assured an audience of conservative Christians on Friday that Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation would go through.
“Keep the faith. Don’t get rattled by all of this. We’re going to plow right through it and do our job,” Mr. McConnell said at the Values Voter Summit. “In the very near future, Judge Kavanaugh will be on the United States Supreme Court.”“Keep the faith. Don’t get rattled by all of this. We’re going to plow right through it and do our job,” Mr. McConnell said at the Values Voter Summit. “In the very near future, Judge Kavanaugh will be on the United States Supreme Court.”
Some of the president’s aides had implored Mr. Trump not to publicly attack Dr. Blasey, reminding him how important it was to the Republican Party that the judge’s confirmation go through. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump acknowledged as much in a Twitter post, saying, “The Supreme Court is one of the main reasons I got elected President.”Some of the president’s aides had implored Mr. Trump not to publicly attack Dr. Blasey, reminding him how important it was to the Republican Party that the judge’s confirmation go through. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump acknowledged as much in a Twitter post, saying, “The Supreme Court is one of the main reasons I got elected President.”
Lara M. Brown, an associate professor at the graduate school of political management at George Washington University, said the president should have followed the advice of his aides. Following his own judgment and publicly questioning Dr. Blasey’s credibility was “not a wise move” politically, she said.Lara M. Brown, an associate professor at the graduate school of political management at George Washington University, said the president should have followed the advice of his aides. Following his own judgment and publicly questioning Dr. Blasey’s credibility was “not a wise move” politically, she said.
“Many people in the country are still trying to understand what happened here, and they’re trying to make up their own minds about what Dr. Ford’s account is, how it kind of aligns with their recollections and their understandings of what can happen in high school,” Professor Brown said.“Many people in the country are still trying to understand what happened here, and they’re trying to make up their own minds about what Dr. Ford’s account is, how it kind of aligns with their recollections and their understandings of what can happen in high school,” Professor Brown said.
The president’s comments could not only jeopardize the support of key Republican senators for Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, but it could also further energize female voters in the midterms who are opposed to Mr. Trump.
Democrats were quick to criticize Mr. Trump for questioning Dr. Blasey.Democrats were quick to criticize Mr. Trump for questioning Dr. Blasey.
“This is EXACTLY why Dr. Ford didn’t want to come forward,” Senator Tammy Duckworth, Democrat of Illinois, said in a tweet.“This is EXACTLY why Dr. Ford didn’t want to come forward,” Senator Tammy Duckworth, Democrat of Illinois, said in a tweet.
Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, called Mr. Trump’s comments “unacceptable and beneath the presidency of the United States.”Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, called Mr. Trump’s comments “unacceptable and beneath the presidency of the United States.”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, said the president should call for the F.B.I. to investigate if he wants to “get to the bottom” of Dr. Blasey’s account.Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, said the president should call for the F.B.I. to investigate if he wants to “get to the bottom” of Dr. Blasey’s account.
After the president tweeted about Dr. Blasey, he returned to criticizing Democrats for slowing the judge’s Supreme Court confirmation process, particularly for waiting so long to raise the issue of Dr. Blasey’s accusation. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, learned of Dr. Blasey’s allegations in July, but said she did not raise the issue sooner because she was respecting Dr. Blasey’s wish to remain anonymous.After the president tweeted about Dr. Blasey, he returned to criticizing Democrats for slowing the judge’s Supreme Court confirmation process, particularly for waiting so long to raise the issue of Dr. Blasey’s accusation. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, learned of Dr. Blasey’s allegations in July, but said she did not raise the issue sooner because she was respecting Dr. Blasey’s wish to remain anonymous.
“I hope this woman is not being used by the Democrats,” Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said in an interview with CNN on Friday.“I hope this woman is not being used by the Democrats,” Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said in an interview with CNN on Friday.
The Senate had planned to vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation on Sept. 20, but the Judiciary Committee agreed to delay the vote until Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh could testify.The Senate had planned to vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation on Sept. 20, but the Judiciary Committee agreed to delay the vote until Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh could testify.
Dr. Blasey declined an invitation to testify on Monday, but through her lawyer, she said she was open to testifying later under several conditions. She said she would be willing to speak with senators on the committee later next week as long as she is questioned by lawmakers — not outside counsel — and as long as Judge Kavanaugh is not in the hearing room while she speaks. She also asked for steps to be taken to ensure her safety — she has received death threats. Dr. Blasey declined an invitation to testify this coming Monday, but through her lawyer, she said she was open to testifying later under several conditions. She said she would be willing to speak with senators on the committee later next week as long as she is questioned by lawmakers — not outside counsel — and as long as Judge Kavanaugh is not in the hearing room while she speaks. She also asked for steps to be taken to ensure her safety — she has received death threats.
Ms. Conway called her requests a “laundry list of demands.”Ms. Conway called her requests a “laundry list of demands.”
Dr. Blasey was to meet with the F.B.I. in San Francisco on Friday afternoon about the online and phone death threats against her, according to her lawyer, Lisa Banks.Dr. Blasey was to meet with the F.B.I. in San Francisco on Friday afternoon about the online and phone death threats against her, according to her lawyer, Lisa Banks.
Ms. Banks declined to address Mr. Trump’s tweets, or the negotiations over Dr. Blasey’s offer to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.Ms. Banks declined to address Mr. Trump’s tweets, or the negotiations over Dr. Blasey’s offer to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.