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Trump attacks 'totally political' investigation of new Kavanaugh allegations Trump attacks 'totally political' investigation of new Kavanaugh allegations
(35 minutes later)
A Senate committee will investigate fresh allegations of sexual misconduct against supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh – claims Donald Trump dismissed on Monday as a “totally political” attempt to stop Republicans cementing a solid conservative majority on the bench.A Senate committee will investigate fresh allegations of sexual misconduct against supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh – claims Donald Trump dismissed on Monday as a “totally political” attempt to stop Republicans cementing a solid conservative majority on the bench.
The White House mounted a vigorous defense of Kavanaugh after the new accounts roiled an already tumultuous confirmation process and intensified calls from Democrats to postpone “any further proceedings” related to his nomination. The White House mounted a vigorous defense of Kavanaugh after the new accounts roiled an already tumultuous confirmation and intensified calls from Democrats to postpone “any further proceedings”.
At the United Nations in New York, Trump called his nominee an “outstanding person” with an “unblemished record”.At the United Nations in New York, Trump called his nominee an “outstanding person” with an “unblemished record”.
“I am with him all the way,” Trump said.“I am with him all the way,” Trump said.
Trump spoke after the New Yorker reported on Sunday evening that a 53-year-old woman, Deborah Ramirez, accused Kavanaugh of thrusting his genitals in her face at a party when they were freshmen at Yale during the 1983-84 academic calendar. The president spoke after the New Yorker reported on Sunday evening that a 53-year-old woman, Deborah Ramirez, accused Kavanaugh of thrusting his genitals in her face at a party when they were freshmen at Yale during the 1983-84 academic calendar.
Ramirez acknowledged that both she and Kavanaugh were inebriated at the time of the alleged incident and that she had some gaps in her memory. But she told the magazine she remembers another student shouting Kavanaugh’s name and said an FBI investigation was “warranted”.Ramirez acknowledged that both she and Kavanaugh were inebriated at the time of the alleged incident and that she had some gaps in her memory. But she told the magazine she remembers another student shouting Kavanaugh’s name and said an FBI investigation was “warranted”.
Kavanaugh denied the claim, calling it a “smear, plain and simple”.Kavanaugh denied the claim, calling it a “smear, plain and simple”.
On Monday, the White House adviser Kellyanne Conway called the claims a “vast leftwing conspiracy” and said Kavanaugh should not have to pay for decades of “pent-up” demands by women for a cultural reckoning on sexual misconduct. White House adviser Kellyanne Conway called the claims a “vast leftwing conspiracy” and said Kavanaugh should not have to pay for decades of “pent-up” demands by women for a cultural reckoning on sexual misconduct.
“I don’t think one man’s shoulders should bear decades of the #MeToo movement,” Conway told CBS News. “I don’t think one man’s shoulders should bear decades of the #MeToo movement,” Conway told CBS News on Monday morning.
The new accusations were published hours after Christine Blasey Ford, a California college professor who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at high-school party, agreed to testify publicly before the Senate judiciary committee on Thursday. Kavanaugh, who will also testify, has vehemently denied Ford’s allegation. The new accusations were published hours after Christine Blasey Ford, a California college professor who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a high school party, agreed to testify publicly before the Senate judiciary committee on Thursday. Kavanaugh, who will also testify, has vehemently denied Ford’s allegation.
Ford’s lawyers said in a statement on Sunday: “Despite actual threats to her safety and her life, Dr Ford believes it is important for senators to hear directly from her about the sexual assault committed against her.”Ford’s lawyers said in a statement on Sunday: “Despite actual threats to her safety and her life, Dr Ford believes it is important for senators to hear directly from her about the sexual assault committed against her.”
Hours later, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the committee’s top Democrat, requested “an immediate postponement of any further proceedings related to the nomination”.Hours later, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the committee’s top Democrat, requested “an immediate postponement of any further proceedings related to the nomination”.
On Monday, Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican on the judiciary committee, said the controversy around Kavanaugh’s nomination represented a “total collapse of the traditional confirmation process” and blamed Democrats for trying to tear apart Trump’s agenda by any means possible. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican on the judiciary committee, said on Monday the controversy around Kavanaugh’s nomination represented a “total collapse of the traditional confirmation process”. He blamed Democrats for trying to tear apart Trump’s agenda by any means possible.
“Clearly when it comes to President Trump, elections – in the eyes of Democrats – have no consequences,” Graham said in a statement. “In my view, the process needs to move forward with a hearing Thursday, and vote in committee soon thereafter.” “Clearly when it comes to President Trump, elections – in the eyes of Democrats – have no consequences,” the South Carolina senator said in a statement. “In my view, the process needs to move forward with a hearing Thursday, and vote in committee soon thereafter.”
The New Yorker has come under fire for its reporting after the New York Times said its reporters interviewed “several dozen people over the past week in an attempt to corroborate [Ramirez’s] story, and could find no one with first-hand knowledge”. He was joined by Orrin Hatch of Utah, a senior Republican on the committee, who accused Democrats of leading a “coordinated effort” to demean the nominee with “their partisan games and transparent attempts at character assassination”.
“No innuendo has been too low, no insinuation too dirty,” said Hatch, in a statement urging the committee to hold the hearing on Thursday and vote soon after that. “Everything is an excuse for delay, no matter how unsubstantiated.”
The New Yorker came under fire for its reporting after the New York Times said its reporters interviewed “several dozen people over the past week in an attempt to corroborate [Ramirez’s] story, and could find no one with first-hand knowledge”.
Reporter Ronan Farrow defended his article, which says Ramirez spoke to the magazine after “six days of carefully assessing her memories and consulting with her attorney”.Reporter Ronan Farrow defended his article, which says Ramirez spoke to the magazine after “six days of carefully assessing her memories and consulting with her attorney”.
“It is not accurate to say that those who knew him at the time dispute this,” Farrow told ABC. He said there were “several people in this story who back Ms Ramirez”.“It is not accurate to say that those who knew him at the time dispute this,” Farrow told ABC. He said there were “several people in this story who back Ms Ramirez”.
Also on Sunday night, Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for Stormy Daniels and a leading anti-Trump figure, released an email that he had sent to the Senate judiciary committee on behalf of an unnamed client. In it, Avenatti makes unsubstantiated claims about Kavanaugh’s behavior as a teenager in suburban Washington. Also on Sunday night, Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for Stormy Daniels and a leading anti-Trump figure, released an email that he had sent to the Senate judiciary committee on behalf of an unnamed client. In it, he made unsubstantiated claims about Kavanaugh’s behavior as a teenager in suburban Washington.
In a statement on Sunday evening, Chuck Grassley, the judiciary committee chair, said his office contacted Avenatti as soon as the lawyer announced he may have information relevant to sexual misconduct claims against Kavanaugh. The committee staff has requested Avenatti provide “any evidence that he claims to have”. In a statement on Sunday evening, Chuck Grassley, the judiciary committee chair, said his office contacted Avenatti as soon as the lawyer announced he may have information relevant to sexual misconduct claims against Kavanaugh. Committee staff had requested Avenatti provide “any evidence that he claims to have”, Grassley said.
Brett KavanaughBrett Kavanaugh
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
US politicsUS politics
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