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Brett Kavanaugh: The nomination and the allegations in 300 words Brett Kavanaugh: The nomination and the allegations in 300 words
(1 day later)
US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct by three women. US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has given defiant testimony after he was accused of sexual misconduct by several women.
Critics including Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer say he should withdraw from consideration, or that his nomination vote should be delayed. At a combative hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, he denied the allegations and pledged never to give up.
Mr Kavanaugh denies all charges against him, and is set to testify on Thursday to the Senate Judiciary Committee about some of the claims. It followed testimony from Doctor Christine Blasey Ford, a research psychologist who said an assault by Mr Kavanaugh 36 years ago had "drastically" affected her life.
But who is Mr Kavanaugh? What are the allegations? And what is at stake? The committee must now vote on his confirmation, which will then go to the full Senate.
In July, President Donald Trump nominated the Court of Appeals judge for a spot on the Supreme Court. Why does this matter?
Lawmakers started scrutinising Mr Kavanaugh's record on controversial issues like abortion and immigration. If Mr Kavanaugh is confirmed he could tilt the balance of the Supreme Court in favour of Republicans for decades.
Then a letter by psychologist and statistics professor Doctor Christine Blasey Ford emerged making claims of sexual assault against him. Judges hold the position for life and the nine-member court has the final say on US law, including on contentious social issues and challenges to government policy.
This is why Mr Kavanaugh's record came under immediate scrutiny when he was nominated by President Trump in July.
A letter by Dr Ford then emerged in which she made claims of sexual assault against him.
What are the accusations?What are the accusations?
Dr Ford claims Mr Kavanaugh tried to force himself on her at a party in the 1980s.Dr Ford claims Mr Kavanaugh tried to force himself on her at a party in the 1980s.
Initially anonymous, Dr Ford agreed to testify at a public hearing.
Shortly after, Judge Kavanaugh's Yale university classmate Deborah Ramirez told the New Yorker he had exposed himself at a dormitory party.Shortly after, Judge Kavanaugh's Yale university classmate Deborah Ramirez told the New Yorker he had exposed himself at a dormitory party.
And a day before Mr Kavanaugh's Senate committee testimony, a third woman, Julie Swetnick, alleged she was the victim of a gang rape in 1982 at a party the judge attended. A third woman, Julie Swetnick, has alleged she was the victim of a gang rape in 1982 at a party the judge attended.
He has rejected all the accusations as untrue.He has rejected all the accusations as untrue.
Why is it so important? What happens now?
The nine-member Supreme Court is the final word on US law, including highly contentious social issues and challenges to government policy. After the committee vote, the full Senate debates the nomination and votes on it. This might happen in the middle of next week.
Judges are nominated by the president and hold the position for life. Republicans want their nominee in place before mid-term elections next month, when they could lose their 51-49 control of the Senate.
Mr Kavanaugh could tilt the court conservative for decades. But it is unclear if they have the support as a number of key senators remain undecided.