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| Lisa Murkowski Delivers Message: Take Kavanaugh Accusations Seriously | Lisa Murkowski Delivers Message: Take Kavanaugh Accusations Seriously |
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| WASHINGTON — Republican Party leaders may be insisting that they will install Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, but Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is offering a blunt warning of her own: Do not prejudge sexual assault allegations against the nominee that will be aired at an extraordinary public hearing on Thursday. | WASHINGTON — Republican Party leaders may be insisting that they will install Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, but Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is offering a blunt warning of her own: Do not prejudge sexual assault allegations against the nominee that will be aired at an extraordinary public hearing on Thursday. |
| “We are now in a place where it’s not about whether or not Judge Kavanaugh is qualified,” Ms. Murkowski, a key swing Republican vote, said in an extended interview in the Capitol Monday night. “It is about whether or not a woman who has been a victim at some point in her life is to be believed.” | “We are now in a place where it’s not about whether or not Judge Kavanaugh is qualified,” Ms. Murkowski, a key swing Republican vote, said in an extended interview in the Capitol Monday night. “It is about whether or not a woman who has been a victim at some point in her life is to be believed.” |
| One of two Republican women in the Senate who supports abortion rights — Susan Collins of Maine is the other — Ms. Murkowski was always expected to be a critical vote in Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation process. But she is making clear that, beyond matters of abortion, she is deeply troubled by Christine Blasey Ford’s story of a sexual assault by Judge Kavanaugh when she was 15 and he was 17. | One of two Republican women in the Senate who supports abortion rights — Susan Collins of Maine is the other — Ms. Murkowski was always expected to be a critical vote in Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation process. But she is making clear that, beyond matters of abortion, she is deeply troubled by Christine Blasey Ford’s story of a sexual assault by Judge Kavanaugh when she was 15 and he was 17. |
| In the interview, Ms. Murkowski emphasized how invested she is in assessing Dr. Blasey’s story. She said she worked behind the scenes last weekend to ensure negotiations between Republicans and the accuser’s lawyers did not fall apart because of an “arbitrary timeline.” She canceled a meeting of the Senate committee she leads on Thursday to ensure her schedule was clear. And although she is not on the Senate Judiciary Committee, she will be watching. | |
| “All you can try to do is be as fair as possible to ensure that at the end of the day justice is delivered,” Ms. Murkowski said. | “All you can try to do is be as fair as possible to ensure that at the end of the day justice is delivered,” Ms. Murkowski said. |
| As senators prepare to face contradictory testimony from Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Blasey, with little hope of independent corroboration, Ms. Murkowski is emerging as a critical voice, along with Ms. Collins, Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, and, possibly, Senator Dean Heller of Nevada, the only Republican up for re-election in November in a state won by Hillary Clinton. | As senators prepare to face contradictory testimony from Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Blasey, with little hope of independent corroboration, Ms. Murkowski is emerging as a critical voice, along with Ms. Collins, Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, and, possibly, Senator Dean Heller of Nevada, the only Republican up for re-election in November in a state won by Hillary Clinton. |
| As new accusations surface, their ultimate decisions are looking ever more difficult. Late Monday night, a freshman roommate of Judge Kavanaugh’s at Yale, James Roche, released a statement in support of another accuser, Deborah Ramirez, who told The New Yorker that a drunken Judge Kavanaugh had exposed himself to her their freshman year and maneuvered to have her touch his genitals. | As new accusations surface, their ultimate decisions are looking ever more difficult. Late Monday night, a freshman roommate of Judge Kavanaugh’s at Yale, James Roche, released a statement in support of another accuser, Deborah Ramirez, who told The New Yorker that a drunken Judge Kavanaugh had exposed himself to her their freshman year and maneuvered to have her touch his genitals. |
| “Although Brett was normally reserved, he was a notably heavy drinker, even by the standards of the time,” Mr. Roche wrote, adding, “he became aggressive and belligerent when he was very drunk.” | “Although Brett was normally reserved, he was a notably heavy drinker, even by the standards of the time,” Mr. Roche wrote, adding, “he became aggressive and belligerent when he was very drunk.” |
| Another Yale schoolmate, Steve Kantrowitz, took to Twitter Tuesday to contradict the assertion Judge Kavanaugh made on Fox News Monday night that he was a virgin in high school and “for many years thereafter.” | Another Yale schoolmate, Steve Kantrowitz, took to Twitter Tuesday to contradict the assertion Judge Kavanaugh made on Fox News Monday night that he was a virgin in high school and “for many years thereafter.” |
| For many Republicans, these charges and countercharges have only cemented their view that Judge Kavanaugh is being smeared by a coordinated campaign of Democrats and liberal activists. Ms. Murkowski is not so dismissive. | For many Republicans, these charges and countercharges have only cemented their view that Judge Kavanaugh is being smeared by a coordinated campaign of Democrats and liberal activists. Ms. Murkowski is not so dismissive. |
| “We are at just a difficult place because the conversation is not rational on either side,” she said. She added: “Just look at some of the hateful things that are being said out there. How do you dial that back?” | “We are at just a difficult place because the conversation is not rational on either side,” she said. She added: “Just look at some of the hateful things that are being said out there. How do you dial that back?” |
| “We need to be able to listen,” she said, pledging to take Dr. Blasey seriously. “We have to listen to what she will say on the record, under oath, and what Judge Kavanaugh will say on the record, under oath.” | “We need to be able to listen,” she said, pledging to take Dr. Blasey seriously. “We have to listen to what she will say on the record, under oath, and what Judge Kavanaugh will say on the record, under oath.” |
| When Dr. Blasey, a research psychologist in Northern California, came forward in an interview with The Washington Post on Sept. 16, Ms. Murkowski and Ms. Collins had largely completed exhaustive reviews of Judge Kavanaugh’s career and legal writing, including in follow-up calls with the nominee just two days before. Both senators were particularly interested in Judge Kavanaugh’s views on Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that established a constitutional right to abortion, but privately, fellow Republicans believed the judge had likely won their support — and with it a ticket onto the court. | When Dr. Blasey, a research psychologist in Northern California, came forward in an interview with The Washington Post on Sept. 16, Ms. Murkowski and Ms. Collins had largely completed exhaustive reviews of Judge Kavanaugh’s career and legal writing, including in follow-up calls with the nominee just two days before. Both senators were particularly interested in Judge Kavanaugh’s views on Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that established a constitutional right to abortion, but privately, fellow Republicans believed the judge had likely won their support — and with it a ticket onto the court. |
| Those views will still impact their decisions, both senators have said. Ms. Murkowski said on Monday that Mr. Kavanaugh had laid out for her a powerful case about the importance of precedent and the “reliance of interest” it creates. | Those views will still impact their decisions, both senators have said. Ms. Murkowski said on Monday that Mr. Kavanaugh had laid out for her a powerful case about the importance of precedent and the “reliance of interest” it creates. |
| “How he articulated how it had been reinforced in so many different steps, I certainly have greater confidence with the way that he portrayed to me how he views Roe,” she said. | “How he articulated how it had been reinforced in so many different steps, I certainly have greater confidence with the way that he portrayed to me how he views Roe,” she said. |
| Ms. Collins, an institutional-minded centrist who carefully reviews judicial nominees, has expressed similar views on Judge Kavanaugh and Roe and indicated that she will watch on Thursday with equal vigor. | Ms. Collins, an institutional-minded centrist who carefully reviews judicial nominees, has expressed similar views on Judge Kavanaugh and Roe and indicated that she will watch on Thursday with equal vigor. |
| “I had not made a decision, and obviously the hearing Thursday is an important one,” Ms. Collins told reporters on Tuesday. She expressed concern about Ms. Ramirez’s accusation, published Sunday in The New Yorker, and suggested that the Judiciary Committee question her under oath as well as Dr. Blasey. | “I had not made a decision, and obviously the hearing Thursday is an important one,” Ms. Collins told reporters on Tuesday. She expressed concern about Ms. Ramirez’s accusation, published Sunday in The New Yorker, and suggested that the Judiciary Committee question her under oath as well as Dr. Blasey. |
| Mr. Flake, a frequent critic of President Trump who is retiring at the end of the term, has been on a different path. He is a member of the Judiciary Committee and spoke enthusiastically in the earlier confirmation hearings about Judge Kavanaugh, limiting his concerns primarily to the judge’s views on executive power and how it might affect investigations of Mr. Trump. But when Dr. Blasey came forward, he told Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, that he could not vote yes without a hearing and joined Ms. Murkowski and Ms. Collins in pushing to ensure that Republicans reached a deal with Dr. Blasey’s lawyers for her testimony. | Mr. Flake, a frequent critic of President Trump who is retiring at the end of the term, has been on a different path. He is a member of the Judiciary Committee and spoke enthusiastically in the earlier confirmation hearings about Judge Kavanaugh, limiting his concerns primarily to the judge’s views on executive power and how it might affect investigations of Mr. Trump. But when Dr. Blasey came forward, he told Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, that he could not vote yes without a hearing and joined Ms. Murkowski and Ms. Collins in pushing to ensure that Republicans reached a deal with Dr. Blasey’s lawyers for her testimony. |
| On Tuesday, Mr. Flake met a new pressure point: A group calling itself Mormon Women for Ethical Government called on the Judiciary Committee’s four Mormon Republicans — Senators Flake, Orrin G. Hatch and Mike Lee of Utah, and Michael D. Crapo of Idaho — “to immediately suspend the confirmation proceedings until a thorough independent investigation can be conducted.” | On Tuesday, Mr. Flake met a new pressure point: A group calling itself Mormon Women for Ethical Government called on the Judiciary Committee’s four Mormon Republicans — Senators Flake, Orrin G. Hatch and Mike Lee of Utah, and Michael D. Crapo of Idaho — “to immediately suspend the confirmation proceedings until a thorough independent investigation can be conducted.” |
| A slightly larger group of moderate senators up for re-election in November may also be in play. They include three Democrats running in states Mr. Trump won by a large margin — Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota — and Mr. Heller. | A slightly larger group of moderate senators up for re-election in November may also be in play. They include three Democrats running in states Mr. Trump won by a large margin — Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota — and Mr. Heller. |
| But most Republican opinion appears fixed. | But most Republican opinion appears fixed. |
| “Unless something new and dramatic comes out, each senator becomes their own court,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican on the Judiciary Committee. “It’s not a legal decision; it’s sort of a political decision.” | |
| In a letter to the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat and an interview with The Washington Post, Dr. Blasey has said that she was at a party with the future Judge Kavanaugh and a few other teens when they were both in high school in the 1980s. She says that he pushed her into a bedroom and then onto a bed, where Judge Kavanaugh grinded his body against hers, tried to remove her clothes and put his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream. Only when Mr. Judge tried to jump on top of them was Dr. Blasey able to escape from the room. | In a letter to the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat and an interview with The Washington Post, Dr. Blasey has said that she was at a party with the future Judge Kavanaugh and a few other teens when they were both in high school in the 1980s. She says that he pushed her into a bedroom and then onto a bed, where Judge Kavanaugh grinded his body against hers, tried to remove her clothes and put his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream. Only when Mr. Judge tried to jump on top of them was Dr. Blasey able to escape from the room. |
| She says the episode caused years of trauma, including medical treatment. He adamantly denies it was him, and in an interview to Fox News that aired Monday evening, pledged to “defend my integrity.” | |
| Democrats, most of whom have said they believe Dr. Blasey, have mostly been left to watch from the sidelines and wait to question Judge Kavanaugh in Thursday’s hearing. | Democrats, most of whom have said they believe Dr. Blasey, have mostly been left to watch from the sidelines and wait to question Judge Kavanaugh in Thursday’s hearing. |
| “You just don’t twist arms,” said Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the chamber’s No. 2 Democrat and a veteran of contentious judicial fights. “You don’t threaten. You don’t overplay your hand. They are going to make a personal decision on a historic vote. And the best you can hope for is you can give them information to consider. That is the best you can hope.” | “You just don’t twist arms,” said Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the chamber’s No. 2 Democrat and a veteran of contentious judicial fights. “You don’t threaten. You don’t overplay your hand. They are going to make a personal decision on a historic vote. And the best you can hope for is you can give them information to consider. That is the best you can hope.” |