ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Democrats slam Republicans for pressing forward with Kavanaugh confirmation last week despite apparently knowing of then-secret allegation

Some prominent Democrats are accusing Republicans of pushing to expedite the timeline for a confirmation vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh even after they learned last week of a then-secret allegation of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh.

Some prominent Democrats accused Republicans of pushing to expedite the timeline for a confirmation vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh even after they learned last week of a then-secret allegation of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh.

On Sunday evening, The New Yorker published a report detailing a second sexual misconduct claim against Kavanaugh, this one made by the judge's former Yale University classmate, Deborah Ramirez. She says Kavanaugh exposed himself to her and thrust his genitals in her face without her consent at a dorm-room party during the 1983-84 school year.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand accused Republican leaders of attempting to "rush a vote" on the nominee even after they knew of the second then-secret allegation.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Senate Republicans were trying to rush a vote while they knew Deborah Ramirez would come forward with her story," the senator tweeted on Sunday night. "They deny Dr. Ford an FBI investigation, won't subpoena corroborating witnesses, and now, this. It's an embarrassment. They have absolutely no interest in the truth."

The New Yorker piece, written by veteran investigative reporters Jane Mayer and Ronan Farrow, asserted that staffers for some senior GOP Senate staffers and at least four Democratic senators learned of Ramirez's allegation last week. While at least two Democratic senators soon initiated investigations into Ramirez's allegations, Republicans continued to press for a committee vote on Kavanaugh.

But some Republicans, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, claimed not to have known about the newest charge until it was published on Sunday evening.

"A Grassley aide tells me the majority Republican staff learned about Ramirez's allegations from Sunday evening's New Yorker story," The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim tweeted Sunday night. "Neither Ramirez nor her attorney have contacted the chairman's office, the aide said, adding Dems never informed the GOP staff of these allegations.

Spokesmen for Sens. Lindsey Graham, Orrin Hatch, and Mike Lee — all Republicans — also told The Post they did not know of the allegations before the New Yorker report.

ADVERTISEMENT

But top Senate Republicans have joined the president and Kavanaugh in characterizing the allegations as a Democratic "smear campaign" and are continuing to call for a speedy vote.

"Democrats won't let a complete lack of evidence get between them and a good smear. It's despicable," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday.

"We should hear from Dr. Ford on Thursday as planned," Hatch, a member of the Judiciary Committee said in a statement. "Then we should vote."

The developments come days before scheduled testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, who alleges

In the wake of Ramirez's allegation, Democrats led by the Judiciary Committee ranking member Sen. Dianne Feinstein are calling on Grassley to postpone all further confirmation proceedings and join them in pressuring the White House to direct the FBI to investigate both Ford and Ramirez's claims.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sen. Mazie Hirono accused the Judiciary Committee's 11 Republicans of "treating this like a hostage situation."

"What are they afraid of?" she asked.

Kavanaugh, who has denied both Ford and Ramirez's allegations, remained defiant on Monday, writing in a letter to the Judiciary Committee on Monday that the claims are "smears, pure and simple" and "grotesque and obvious character assassination."

"I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process," he wrote. "The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out."

Trump simultaneously dug in, calling the sexual misconduct allegations "totally political" and telling reporters that Kavanaugh is "a man with an unblemished past."

ADVERTISEMENT

"There's a chance that this could be one of the single most unfair, unjust things to happen for a candidate for anything," Trump said.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

Here's everything to know about being a virgin on your wedding night

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT