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Swing Republican Senators Condemn Trump’s Mockery of Kavanaugh Accuser Swing Republican Senators Condemn Trump’s Mockery of Kavanaugh Accuser
(about 4 hours later)
WASHINGTON — Three influential Republicans, who together could decide whether Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh will sit on the Supreme Court, condemned on Wednesday comments by President Trump that mocked one of the women who has accused his nominee of sexual assault. WASHINGTON — Three influential Republicans on Wednesday condemned President Trump for mocking a woman who accused Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of sexual assault, adding more uncertainty to his Supreme Court confirmation fight as the Senate prepared to receive an F.B.I. investigation into the allegations late Wednesday night.
The president’s mockery of the woman, Christine Blasey Ford, at a Mississippi campaign rally on Tuesday injected still more uncertainty into the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh and only served to heighten tensions as senators prepared for the F.B.I. to deliver as soon as Wednesday afternoon transcripts of interviews from a brief supplemental background investigation into accusations against the nominee. As they were waiting, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee insinuated that previous F.B.I. background checks of Judge Kavanaugh had, in fact, turned up evidence of either inappropriate sexual behavior or alcohol abuse. A letter from Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and other Democrats chastised committee Republicans for a tweet that said “nowhere” in the earlier F.B.I. checks “was there ever a whiff of ANY issue — at all — related in any way to inappropriate sexual behavior or alcohol abuse.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, told reporters, “I am taking everything into account. The president’s comments yesterday mocking Dr. Ford were wholly inappropriate and in my view unacceptable.” Information in the post “is not accurate,” the Democrats wrote.
On NBC’s “Today,” Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said, “There is no time and no place for remarks like that, but to discuss something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right.” “It is troubling that the committee majority has characterized information from Judge Kavanaugh’s confidential background information on Twitter,” they wrote, adding, “If the committee majority is going to violate that confidentiality and characterize this background information publicly, you must at least be honest about it.”
Republicans called the letter “more baseless innuendo and more false smears.”
The exchange was just part of the fierce jockeying between the parties ahead of the delivery of the F.B.I. interviews. Hours before the documents were expected to arrive, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, warned that the interview summaries might be worthless because the investigation did not include interviews with Judge Kavanaugh; his first accuser, Christine Blasey Ford; or witnesses identified as corroborators by his second accuser, a classmate at Yale named Deborah Ramirez.
“The White House confirmation that it will not allow the F.B.I. to interview Dr. Blasey Ford, Judge Kavanaugh or witnesses identified by Deborah Ramirez raises serious concerns that this is not a credible investigation and begs the question: What other restrictions has the White House placed on the F.B.I.?” she wrote.
But it was the three Republicans — Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Jeff Flake of Arizona — who injected the most uncertainty into the confirmation. Together they could determine whether Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court, and Mr. Trump’s mockery of Dr. Blasey at a Mississippi campaign rally on Tuesday only heightened tensions as senators prepared to read the highly anticipated summaries of the interviews.
“I am taking everything into account,” Ms. Murkowski told reporters. “The president’s comments yesterday mocking Dr. Ford were wholly inappropriate and in my view unacceptable.”
On NBC’s “Today,” Mr. Flake said, “There is no time and no place for remarks like that, but to discuss something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right.”
“I wish he hadn’t have done it, and I just say it’s kind of appalling,” Mr. Flake added.“I wish he hadn’t have done it, and I just say it’s kind of appalling,” Mr. Flake added.
And Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, told reporters in the Capitol the remarks were “just plain wrong.” And Ms. Collins told reporters in the Capitol the remarks were “just plain wrong.”
Those swift rebukes, and others from liberal Democrats trying to sink Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation, reflected the strained atmosphere that has settled over Capitol Hill as the Senate lurches toward a final vote on Judge Kavanaugh that could alter the course of the Supreme Court. A White House official said Mr. Trump was merely “stating facts.” Ms. Collins did not indicate that the comments would affect her final vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation, which could come as soon as late this week. Mr. Flake said they would not affect his: “No, you can’t blame or take it out on other people, the president’s insensitive remarks.”
Ms. Collins did not indicate that the comments would affect her final vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation, which could come as soon as late this week. Mr. Flake said it would not: “No, you can’t blame or take it out on other people, the president’s insensitive remarks.” Instead, the senators have said they are waiting for the results of a supplemental background investigation by the F.B.I. — findings that were expected to reach Capitol Hill late Wednesday. Senators were told that they would be able to review the material in a secured room as soon as it was transmitted.
Instead, the senators have said they are waiting for the results of a supplemental background investigation by the F.B.I. into sexual misconduct claims — findings that were expected to reach Capitol Hill late Wednesday. Senators were told that they would be able to review the material in a secured room as soon as it was transmitted. Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of the Republican leadership, said that if that occurs on Wednesday, the Senate would most likely hold a procedural vote Friday and a final confirmation vote Saturday. That situation, he said, would be the “likely way to progress to the end of this and start healing up here.”
Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of the Republican leadership, said that if that occurs on Wednesday, the Senate would likely hold a procedural vote Friday and a final confirmation vote Saturday. That scenario, he said, would be the “likely way to progress to the end of this and start healing up here.” Senators from both parties said they would like to see the F.B.I.’s findings eventually made public in some form, but a previous agreement governing background investigations like the one into Judge Kavanaugh could make that legally difficult.
Two senior Republicans lamented Mr. Trump’s comments, as well. Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined the condemnations when he took to Twitter to “plead with all” to stop attacks and “destruction of” Dr. Blasey. A four-page memorandum between the Judiciary Committee and the White House precludes disclosure of contents of a background file by the committee, and lays out circumstances under which designated staff members or senators who disclose its contents without authorization can be punished.
“I wish he would just stay out of it,” said Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah. White House lawyers have concluded that a similar memorandum dealing with Privacy Act restrictions bars them from making the contents public either, or from commenting on them with any specificity.
But in a sign of how the Kavanaugh debate has shattered the longstanding rules of decorum in the Senate, the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, nearly accused his Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell, of lying after Mr. McConnell accused Democrats of trying to delay the confirmation vote. An F.B.I. background investigation differs considerably from more familiar criminal investigations, and is based principally on gathering information to inform decisions by senators and the White House. In a criminal investigation, agents make crucial investigative decisions about scope and strategy, and they are able to use search warrants and subpoenas to compel evidence. Agents working a background investigation have no such tools, and they get explicit marching orders through the White House Counsel’s Office.
Mr. Trump’s remarks about Dr. Blasey dominated much of the day.
Liberal opponents of Judge Kavanaugh turned Mr. Trump’s verbal assault on Dr. Blasey into an internet advertisement intended to pressure Ms. Collins, Mr. Flake and Ms. Murkowski.
Democratic senators railed against his insensitivity. And Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, took to Twitter to “plead with all” to stop attacks and “destruction of” Dr. Blasey.
But in a sign of how the Kavanaugh debate has shattered the longstanding rules of decorum in the Senate, the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, nearly accused his Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, of lying after Mr. McConnell accused Democrats of trying to delay the confirmation vote.
“It is a blatant falsehood,” Mr. Schumer declared. “I’m so tempted to use the ‘L’ word — but he is my friend — to say the Democrats caused the delay.”“It is a blatant falsehood,” Mr. Schumer declared. “I’m so tempted to use the ‘L’ word — but he is my friend — to say the Democrats caused the delay.”
Mr. McConnell, for his part, railed against protesters who have dogged him and other Republican senators. Mr. McConnell railed against protesters who have dogged him and other Republican senators.
“One of our colleagues and his family were effectively run out of a restaurant in recent days. Another reported having protesters physically block his car door,” he said.“One of our colleagues and his family were effectively run out of a restaurant in recent days. Another reported having protesters physically block his car door,” he said.
“I’m not suggesting we’re the victims here,” he went on. “But I want to make it clear to these people who are chasing my members around the hall here, or harassing them at the airports, or going to their homes. We will not be intimidated by these people.”“I’m not suggesting we’re the victims here,” he went on. “But I want to make it clear to these people who are chasing my members around the hall here, or harassing them at the airports, or going to their homes. We will not be intimidated by these people.”
A handful of undecided senators helped force Republican leaders to initiate the inquiry into sexual misconduct allegations last week, and have kept close tabs on how the investigation is progressing. Mr. Flake has made clear he intends to vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh if the F.B.I. does not turn up any meaningful new information bolstering the accusations. Ms. Collins, one of the body’s few remaining moderates who is under intense pressure from liberals and conservatives, has said she remains undecided. Mr. Trump’s tone toward Dr. Blasey has shifted in the days since she first came forward with a story that Judge Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her more than 30 years ago when they were both teenagers. The president initially avoided criticizing her directly and said he would watch her testimony before the Judiciary Committee closely.
Mr. Trump’s tone toward Dr. Blasey has shifted in the days since she first came forward with a story that Judge Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her more than thirty years ago when they were both teenagers. The president initially avoided criticizing her directly and said he would watch her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee closely. But on Tuesday, before a cheering crowd in Mississippi, he dispensed with that reserve, deriding Dr. Blasey’s emotional testimony of what happened that night.
But on Wednesday, before a cheering crowd in Mississippi, he dispensed with that reserve, deriding Dr. Blasey’s emotional testimony of what happened that night.
“Thirty-six years ago this happened. I had one beer, right? I had one beer,” Mr. Trump said, imitating Dr. Blasey.“Thirty-six years ago this happened. I had one beer, right? I had one beer,” Mr. Trump said, imitating Dr. Blasey.
“How did you get home? I don’t remember,” he said. “How’d you get there? I don’t remember. Where is the place? I don’t remember. How many years ago was it? I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.”“How did you get home? I don’t remember,” he said. “How’d you get there? I don’t remember. Where is the place? I don’t remember. How many years ago was it? I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.”
At the White House on Wednesday, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, batted back criticism of Mr. Trump’s remarks at the rally.
“It seemed to me that he was stating facts that Dr. Ford herself laid out in testimony,” Ms. Sanders said, adding that there had been no information made public that supported Dr. Blasey’s accounts. Ms. Sanders also defended the White House’s handling of the F.B.I. background investigation into the accusations, saying the administration had given senators what they asked for.
“Every single word that Judge Kavanaugh has said is picked apart, every single word, second by second of his testimony has been picked apart,” she said. “Yet if anybody says anything about the accusations that have been thrown against him, that’s totally off limits and outrageous.”
Still, a Republican who has forcefully defended Judge Kavanaugh, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said he took no issue with the content of Mr. Trump’s speech but did not like the president’s delivery.
“I would tell him to knock it off — it’s not helpful,” Mr. Graham said at the Atlantic festival in Washington.
Liberal opponents of Judge Kavanaugh wasted little time in turning Mr. Trump’s verbal assault on Dr. Blasey into an internet advertisement intended to pressure Ms. Collins, Mr. Flake and Ms. Murkowski.
The ad, created by the group Demand Justice, features a black and white photograph of Dr. Blasey, her hand raised as she takes the oath before testifying, and Mr. Trump’s mocking words. It carries the tag line, “Please stand up to Donald Trump,” and will run in the senators’ home states.