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Brett Kavanaugh: Second allegation made against court nominee | Brett Kavanaugh: Second allegation made against court nominee |
(35 minutes later) | |
A second woman has come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against President Donald Trump's US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. | A second woman has come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against President Donald Trump's US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. |
Deborah Ramirez, a Yale university classmate of the judge, detailed the alleged incident to the New Yorker. | Deborah Ramirez, a Yale university classmate of the judge, detailed the alleged incident to the New Yorker. |
She alleges Mr Kavanaugh exposed his genitals at a dormitory party and thrust them in her face, causing physical contact without consent. | She alleges Mr Kavanaugh exposed his genitals at a dormitory party and thrust them in her face, causing physical contact without consent. |
The judge has denied both allegations, labelling the latest "a smear". | The judge has denied both allegations, labelling the latest "a smear". |
Professor Christine Blasey Ford, who last week came forward as the woman alleging Mr Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982, has agreed to testify about the allegation at a Senate committee hearing on Thursday. | Professor Christine Blasey Ford, who last week came forward as the woman alleging Mr Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982, has agreed to testify about the allegation at a Senate committee hearing on Thursday. |
The choice of a new justice for the Supreme Court is pivotal, as it often gives the final word on highly contentious laws, with an immense impact on US public life. | The choice of a new justice for the Supreme Court is pivotal, as it often gives the final word on highly contentious laws, with an immense impact on US public life. |
What is he accused of? | What is he accused of? |
Ms Ramirez alleges the incident occurred when she was a freshman at Yale University alongside Mr Kavanaugh during the 1983-4 academic year. | Ms Ramirez alleges the incident occurred when she was a freshman at Yale University alongside Mr Kavanaugh during the 1983-4 academic year. |
She says they were both taking part in a drinking game at a dormitory party where people sat in a circle and selected others to drink. | She says they were both taking part in a drinking game at a dormitory party where people sat in a circle and selected others to drink. |
She says at one point, a plastic penis was pointed in her direction by one man, and later another exposed himself directly. | She says at one point, a plastic penis was pointed in her direction by one man, and later another exposed himself directly. |
"I remember a penis being in front of my face," she said. "I knew that's not what I wanted, even in that state of mind." | "I remember a penis being in front of my face," she said. "I knew that's not what I wanted, even in that state of mind." |
Ms Ramirez said she was mocked and taunted when she remarked it wasn't real, and then ended up touching the genitals while attempting to push the man away. | Ms Ramirez said she was mocked and taunted when she remarked it wasn't real, and then ended up touching the genitals while attempting to push the man away. |
"I wasn't going to touch a penis until I was married," she said, referring to her devout Catholic upbringing. "I was embarrassed and ashamed and humiliated." | "I wasn't going to touch a penis until I was married," she said, referring to her devout Catholic upbringing. "I was embarrassed and ashamed and humiliated." |
She says she remembers Mr Kavanaugh standing to her right and laughing, pulling up his pants. | She says she remembers Mr Kavanaugh standing to her right and laughing, pulling up his pants. |
The article says the 53-year-old acknowledges gaps in her memory caused by alcohol that night, which is said to have made her hesitant to come forward when contacted. | The article says the 53-year-old acknowledges gaps in her memory caused by alcohol that night, which is said to have made her hesitant to come forward when contacted. |
What do other people say about the alleged incident? | What do other people say about the alleged incident? |
The journalists behind the piece, Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer, say they contacted dozens of classmates to try and corroborate Ms Ramirez's account. | The journalists behind the piece, Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer, say they contacted dozens of classmates to try and corroborate Ms Ramirez's account. |
Three former students, who were not independent eyewitnesses, recalled being told or discussing the incident in vague terms at the time. | Three former students, who were not independent eyewitnesses, recalled being told or discussing the incident in vague terms at the time. |
Two males allegedly involved in the incident disputed her account alongside several other classmates, adding the allegation against Mr Kavanaugh was "completely out of character". | Two males allegedly involved in the incident disputed her account alongside several other classmates, adding the allegation against Mr Kavanaugh was "completely out of character". |
In a statement, the Supreme Court nominee strongly refuted the allegation. | In a statement, the Supreme Court nominee strongly refuted the allegation. |
"This alleged event from 35 years ago did not happen. The people who knew me then know that this did not happen, and have said so," he said. | "This alleged event from 35 years ago did not happen. The people who knew me then know that this did not happen, and have said so," he said. |
"This is a smear, plain and simple. I look forward to testifying on Thursday about the truth, and defending my good name - and the reputation for character and integrity I have spent a lifetime building - against these last-minute allegations." | "This is a smear, plain and simple. I look forward to testifying on Thursday about the truth, and defending my good name - and the reputation for character and integrity I have spent a lifetime building - against these last-minute allegations." |
A White House spokeswoman says the administration stands by the nominee, labelling the allegation "the latest in coordinated smear campaign by the Democrats designed to tear a good man down". | A White House spokeswoman says the administration stands by the nominee, labelling the allegation "the latest in coordinated smear campaign by the Democrats designed to tear a good man down". |
What will happen now? | What will happen now? |
Before President Trump's nominee can be approved for the vacant seat on the US top court, he has to be approved by the 21-person Senate Judiciary Committee and then the whole Senate. | Before President Trump's nominee can be approved for the vacant seat on the US top court, he has to be approved by the 21-person Senate Judiciary Committee and then the whole Senate. |
Professor Christine Blasey Ford, who came forward last week, has agreed to be questioned publicly at a committee hearing on Thursday. | Professor Christine Blasey Ford, who came forward last week, has agreed to be questioned publicly at a committee hearing on Thursday. |
She alleges Mr Kavanaugh tried to drunkenly remove her clothing, pinned her to a bed and covered her mouth at a high-school party in 1982 when she was 15 and he was 17. | She alleges Mr Kavanaugh tried to drunkenly remove her clothing, pinned her to a bed and covered her mouth at a high-school party in 1982 when she was 15 and he was 17. |
Some Republicans, including President Trump, have accused her and Democratic politicians of deliberately trying to delay and obstruct the judge's confirmation using the allegations. | Some Republicans, including President Trump, have accused her and Democratic politicians of deliberately trying to delay and obstruct the judge's confirmation using the allegations. |
Both Prof Ford and Mr Kavanaugh and his wife have reportedly received violent threats since the allegations came to light. | Both Prof Ford and Mr Kavanaugh and his wife have reportedly received violent threats since the allegations came to light. |
Michael Avenatti, a US lawyer known for representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her cases against President Trump, has alleged on Twitter that he is representing a third woman with "credible information" regarding Judge Kavanaugh and the alleged witness to Prof Ford's assault, Mark Judge. |