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Brett Kavanaugh News: Catch Up as Senate Vote Nears Brett Kavanaugh News: Catch Up as Senate Vote Nears
(about 1 hour later)
Updated Oct. 4Updated Oct. 4
The bitter fight over President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, may be nearing an end, with Republicans increasingly confident that he will be confirmed despite allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against him. (Follow our latest updates here.)The bitter fight over President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, may be nearing an end, with Republicans increasingly confident that he will be confirmed despite allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against him. (Follow our latest updates here.)
The confirmation has dominated headlines for weeks, inspiring protests and encouraging women to share their own stories of rape, assault and harassment.The confirmation has dominated headlines for weeks, inspiring protests and encouraging women to share their own stories of rape, assault and harassment.
Here’s a guide to coverage of the confirmation from The New York Times.Here’s a guide to coverage of the confirmation from The New York Times.
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The White House said on Thursday that the F.B.I. had completed its latest investigation into Judge Kavanaugh, with Republicans determined to proceed with an initial Senate vote on Friday and a final vote as soon as Saturday.The White House said on Thursday that the F.B.I. had completed its latest investigation into Judge Kavanaugh, with Republicans determined to proceed with an initial Senate vote on Friday and a final vote as soon as Saturday.
The confirmation has depended on the votes of a handful of senators. Two key Republicans, Senators Jeff Flake and Susan Collins, signaled on Thursday that they were satisfied with the investigation. Read what senators on the left and the right have said about the F.B.I.’s findings.The confirmation has depended on the votes of a handful of senators. Two key Republicans, Senators Jeff Flake and Susan Collins, signaled on Thursday that they were satisfied with the investigation. Read what senators on the left and the right have said about the F.B.I.’s findings.
The investigation was ordered last week by Mr. Trump following a request from Mr. Flake. Read about the tumultuous 24 hours that caused Mr. Flake to delay the initial vote.The investigation was ordered last week by Mr. Trump following a request from Mr. Flake. Read about the tumultuous 24 hours that caused Mr. Flake to delay the initial vote.
Democrats had criticized the investigation for omitting interviews with key witnesses and challenged its legitimacy on Thursday. While the White House ultimately authorized the F.B.I. to interview anyone it deemed necessary, five former Yale classmates of Judge Kavanaugh told The Times that they had tried to offer information to the agency without success.Democrats had criticized the investigation for omitting interviews with key witnesses and challenged its legitimacy on Thursday. While the White House ultimately authorized the F.B.I. to interview anyone it deemed necessary, five former Yale classmates of Judge Kavanaugh told The Times that they had tried to offer information to the agency without success.
Here is a list of who the F.B.I. has and has not interviewed, and here are some of the inconsistencies between the accounts of Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Kavanaugh.Here is a list of who the F.B.I. has and has not interviewed, and here are some of the inconsistencies between the accounts of Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Kavanaugh.
[Make sense of the people, issues and ideas shaping the 2018 elections with our new politics newsletter.][Make sense of the people, issues and ideas shaping the 2018 elections with our new politics newsletter.]
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Three women have publicly accused Judge Kavanaugh of sexual assault or misconduct, including Dr. Blasey, who was the first to come forward.Three women have publicly accused Judge Kavanaugh of sexual assault or misconduct, including Dr. Blasey, who was the first to come forward.
During a Senate hearing last week, Dr. Blasey, a university professor and research psychologist, described a chilling scene at a high school gathering more than 30 years ago, when, she said, a young, drunken Mr. Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, tried to rip off her clothes and placed his hand over her mouth to muffle her screams for help. (Here’s our profile of her.)During a Senate hearing last week, Dr. Blasey, a university professor and research psychologist, described a chilling scene at a high school gathering more than 30 years ago, when, she said, a young, drunken Mr. Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, tried to rip off her clothes and placed his hand over her mouth to muffle her screams for help. (Here’s our profile of her.)
Ms. Ramirez, who works for a county housing department in Colorado, accused Mr. Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her at a drunken college party. (Here’s our profile of her.) Deborah Ramirez, who works for a county housing department in Colorado, accused Mr. Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her at a drunken college party. (Here’s our profile of her.)
The third woman, Julie Swetnick, who has held a variety of public-and private-sector jobs, said that Mr. Kavanaugh was “present” when she was raped at a high school party. We debunk five viral rumors about the accusers here. The third woman, Julie Swetnick, who has held a variety of public- and private-sector jobs, said that Mr. Kavanaugh was “present” when she was raped at a high school party. We debunk five viral rumors about the accusers here.
The allegations have raised a number of questions about Judge Kavanaugh, including his drinking; references to a woman in his high school yearbook; a letter he wrote to high school friends ahead of a week at the beach; and his involvement in a bar fight years ago. The allegations have raised several questions about Judge Kavanaugh, including his drinking; references to a woman in his high school yearbook; a letter he wrote to high school friends ahead of a week at the beach; and his involvement in a bar fight years ago.
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As the accusations emerged, survivors of abuse have shared their stories. Many rallied around a new hashtag, #WhyIDidntReport, which highlights why women often hesitate to reveal harassment or abuse.As the accusations emerged, survivors of abuse have shared their stories. Many rallied around a new hashtag, #WhyIDidntReport, which highlights why women often hesitate to reveal harassment or abuse.
Some of the women who have publicly shared such stories include Connie Chung, the longtime television news anchor; Patti Davis, the author and daughter of President Ronald Reagan; and Padma Lakshmi, the television host and A.C.L.U. ambassador for immigration and women’s rights.Some of the women who have publicly shared such stories include Connie Chung, the longtime television news anchor; Patti Davis, the author and daughter of President Ronald Reagan; and Padma Lakshmi, the television host and A.C.L.U. ambassador for immigration and women’s rights.
Americans were transfixed when Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh offered contrasting stories at the hearing last week.Americans were transfixed when Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh offered contrasting stories at the hearing last week.
Dr. Blasey’s understated testimony served as a stark reminder of gender dynamics and of the mental gymnastics required of women who speak up. Judge Kavanaugh’s was a blistering defense, in which he denounced a partisan “frenzy” bent on destroying his nomination.Dr. Blasey’s understated testimony served as a stark reminder of gender dynamics and of the mental gymnastics required of women who speak up. Judge Kavanaugh’s was a blistering defense, in which he denounced a partisan “frenzy” bent on destroying his nomination.
That fury borrowed from Mr. Trump’s playbook on white male anger. On Tuesday, the president mocked Dr. Blasey at a campaign rally and separately said it was a “very scary time for young men in America” because of what he described as an erosion of due process when it comes to sexual misconduct claims. Republicans launched a new attack on Dr. Blasey’s credibility.That fury borrowed from Mr. Trump’s playbook on white male anger. On Tuesday, the president mocked Dr. Blasey at a campaign rally and separately said it was a “very scary time for young men in America” because of what he described as an erosion of due process when it comes to sexual misconduct claims. Republicans launched a new attack on Dr. Blasey’s credibility.
Conservatives now see their effort to confirm Mr. Kavanaugh as tied to their fortunes in the midterm elections, and they view fervent liberal opposition to Mr. Kavanaugh’s nomination as a way to galvanize Republican voters.Conservatives now see their effort to confirm Mr. Kavanaugh as tied to their fortunes in the midterm elections, and they view fervent liberal opposition to Mr. Kavanaugh’s nomination as a way to galvanize Republican voters.
Several thousand protesters — most of them women — demonstrated against Mr. Kavanaugh’s nomination in the capital on Thursday, staging a sit-down protest in a Senate office building that generated scores of arrests.Several thousand protesters — most of them women — demonstrated against Mr. Kavanaugh’s nomination in the capital on Thursday, staging a sit-down protest in a Senate office building that generated scores of arrests.
More than 2,400 law professors have signed onto a letter opposing the nomination, because of Judge Kavanaugh’s performance at the hearing, which also brought renewed attention to a 2006 statement from the American Bar Association raising concerns about his demeanor and veracity. More than 2,400 law professors have signed a letter opposing the nomination because of Judge Kavanaugh’s performance at the hearing, which also brought renewed attention to a 2006 statement from the American Bar Association raising concerns about his demeanor and veracity.
Mr. Kavanaugh sought to ease those concerns in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday night, admitting that he said a few things he should not have during last week’s hearing. He wrote that he was emotional because he was “there as a son, husband and dad.” Mr. Kavanaugh defended his impartiality and independence in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday night, admitting that he said a few things he should not have during last week’s hearing. He wrote that he was emotional because he was “there as a son, husband and dad.”
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Many see parallels with Anita Hill, who accused Judge Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his Supreme Court confirmation process more than a quarter-century ago before he was ultimately confirmed.Many see parallels with Anita Hill, who accused Judge Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his Supreme Court confirmation process more than a quarter-century ago before he was ultimately confirmed.
Read more about Ms. Hill’s testimony and listen to The Daily’s episode revisiting it. Ms. Hill, now a professor at Brandeis University, weighed in herself, writing that, this time around, the Senate Judiciary Committee can “do better.” Read more about Ms. Hill’s testimony and listen to the episode of “The Daily” that revisits it. Ms. Hill, now a professor at Brandeis University, weighed in herself, writing that, this time around, the Senate Judiciary Committee can “do better.”
On Friday, Ms. Hill said that she tried to keep an open mind while watching Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh at the hearing, “but at the end of the day, I certainly believed her.”On Friday, Ms. Hill said that she tried to keep an open mind while watching Dr. Blasey and Judge Kavanaugh at the hearing, “but at the end of the day, I certainly believed her.”