Brett Kavanaugh, accuser say they’re ready to testify, but how?
Brett Kavanaugh and the woman accusing him of a decades-old sexual assault both indicated Monday they would be willing to testify to a Senate panel as the confirmation of President Donald Trump‘s Supreme Court nominee shifted from seemingly painless to problematic. However, top Republicans seemed to be trying to limit any new testimony by Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, to telephone interviews. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said he was trying to arrange to hear Ford in “an appropriate, precedented and respectful manner.” The Iowa Republican said standard procedure for late-breaking information would involve follow-up phone calls with “at least” Kavanaugh and Ford. No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Cornyn of Texas backed him, lauding Grassley for seeking a process that “respects confidentiality.” Kavanaugh was seen arriving at the White House, with no immediate reason given, while all 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote to Grassley asking him to postpone a scheduled Thursday vote on the nominee to give the FBI more time to investigate. Democrats and some Republican senators have expressed concern over Ford’s private-turned-public accusation that a drunken Kavanaugh groped her and tried to take off her clothes at a party when both were teenagers at high schools in suburban Maryland. Kavanaugh released a new statement calling the allegation “completely false” and saying he “had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself” on Sunday to The Washington Post. “I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity,” Kavanaugh said. Debra S. Katz, the attorney for the accuser, said Ford was willing to tell her story publicly to the Judiciary panel but no lawmakers had yet contacted her. Katz denied that Ford, a Democrat, was politically motivated. “She believes that if it were not for the severe intoxication of Brett Kavanaugh, she would have been raped,” Katz told NBC’s “Today.” Explaining Ford’s initial reluctance to come forward, Katz said, “No one in their right mind regardless of their motives would want to inject themselves into this process and face the kind of violation that she will be subjected to by those who want this nominee to go though.” The Judiciary Democrats, in their letter to Chairman Grassley of Iowa, said serious questions have been raised about Kavanaugh’s “record, truthfulness and character.” Currently a judge on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, widely viewed as the nation’s second most powerful court, Kavanaugh seemed to be on a smooth confirmation track until the new allegation emerged. Kavanaugh, 53, “categorically and unequivocally” denied the allegation when it came out anonymously last week. “This has not changed,” said White House spokesman Kerri Kupec on Monday. “Judge Kavanaugh and the White House both stand by that statement.” Still, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said of Ford: “She should not be insulted. She should not be ignored. She should testify under oath, and she should do it on Capitol Hill.” Conway, who said she had discussed the situation with Trump, said both Ford and Kavanaugh should testify, but made clear it was up to the Judiciary Committee. She said Sen. Lindsey Graham had told her it could happen as soon as Tuesday and the White House will “respect the process.” Stressing that Kavanaugh had already testified and undergone FBI background checks, Conway said: “I think you have to weigh this testimonial evidence from Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh along with the considerable body of evidence that is already there about the judge’s temperament and qualifications and character.” Initially the sexual misconduct allegation was conveyed in a private letter, without revealing Ford’s name. With a name and disturbing details, the accusation raised the prospect of congressional Republicans defending Trump’s nominee ahead of midterm elections featuring an unprecedented number of female candidates and informed in part by the #MeToo movement. Ford said Kavanaugh and a friend — both “stumbling drunk,” she says — corralled her in a bedroom at a Maryland party in the early 1980s when she was around 15 and Kavanaugh was around 17. She says Kavanaugh groped her over her clothes, grinded his body against hers and tried to take off her one-piece swimsuit and the outfit she wore over it. Kavanaugh covered her mouth with his hand when she tried to scream, she says, and she escaped when the friend, Mark Judge, jumped on them. Kavanaugh attended a private school for boys in Maryland while Ford attended a nearby school. A split over the nomination seemed to be emerging among the GOP. Two committee Republicans — all on the GOP side are men — Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said they wanted to hear more from Ford. Flake went as far as to say he was “not comfortable” voting for Kavanaugh for the time being. A potential “no” vote from Flake would complicate the judge’s prospects because Republicans control the committee by just 11-10. A Republican not on the committee, Bob Corker of Tennessee, said the vote should be postponed until the committee heard from Ford. GOP Maine Sen. Susan Collins tweeted that she wanted Kavanaugh and Ford to both testify under oath to the committee, but when she was contacted Sunday by CNN she wouldn’t say if the vote should be postponed. Grassley said that so far, the Judiciary committee’s top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, has refused to help schedule telephone interviews. A committee spokesman had said Sunday that Grassley was trying to arrange those phone calls but only for aides to Grassley and Feinstein before Thursday’s scheduled vote. The allegation against Kavanaugh first came to light late last week in the form of a letter that had been for some time in the possession of Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee and one of its four female members. On Sunday, the Post published an interview with Ford. “I thought he
Doug Jones: ‘Hit the pause button’ on Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote
Alabama’s newly elected U.S. Sen. Doug Jones says the U.S. Senate ought to “hit the pause button” on vote to confirm President Donald Trump‘s U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Jones made the comment via Twitter Sunday evening after the woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her during their teenage years identified herself in a report from The Washington Post on Sunday afternoon. Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor in Northern California, said Kavanaugh tried to “attack [her] and remove [her] clothing” during a party when both of them were high school students in Maryland in the early 80s. Jones tweeted, “We cannot rush to move forward under this cloud.” “This was a very brave step to come forward. It is more important than ever to hit the pause button on Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote until we can fully investigate these serious and disturbing allegations. We cannot rush to move forward under this cloud,” Jones tweeted. This was a very brave step to come forward. It is more important than ever to hit the pause button on Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote until we can fully investigate these serious and disturbing allegations. We cannot rush to move forward under this cloud. https://t.co/SIHzdnnOFJ — Doug Jones (@SenDougJones) September 16, 2018 Kavanaugh, in a statement Monday, called the allegation “completely false.” The White House said it stood by Kavanaugh’s previous denial of any such incident.
Brett Kavanaugh denies allegation of sexual misconduct in school
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Friday denied an allegation of sexual misconduct from when he was in high school, seeking to defuse a potential threat to his confirmation as a handful of key senators remained silent on whether they would vote for him. In a statement released by the White House, Kavanaugh said: “I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time.” Senate Republicans insist Kavanaugh’s confirmation remains on track. But the allegation has inflamed an already intense political battle over President Donald Trump’s nominee. It also pushes the #MeToo movement into the court fight, less than two months before congressional elections that have seen a surge of female Democratic candidates. The New Yorker magazine reported that the alleged incident took place at a party when Kavanaugh, now 53, was attending Georgetown Preparatory School. The woman making the allegation attended a nearby school. The magazine says the woman sent a letter about the allegation to Democrats. A Democratic aide and another person familiar with the letter confirmed Friday to The Associated Press that the allegation is sexual in nature. Two other people familiar with the matter confirmed it concerned an incident alleged to have occurred in high school. They were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The AP has not confirmed the details of the incident alleged in The New Yorker’s account. Rallying to Kavanaugh’s defense, 65 women who knew him in high school issued a letter saying Kavanaugh has “always treated women with decency and respect.” The letter was circulated by Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983,” wrote the women, who said most of them had attended all-girl high schools in the area. “For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect.” The show of support for Kavanaugh was organized by his former law clerks. Three women reached by AP said they were first asked to sign the letter on Thursday. The swift pushback comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, notified federal investigators about information she received about the nominee. Feinstein won’t disclose the information publicly, but the FBI confirmed it has included it in Kavanaugh’s background file at the committee, now available confidentially to all senators. Kavanaugh’s nomination has divided the Senate and the new information complicates the process, especially as key Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, are under enormous pressure from outside groups seeking to sway their votes on grounds that a Justice Kavanaugh might vote to undercut the Roe v. Wade ruling. One activist group favoring abortion choice, NARAL, called on Kavanaugh to withdraw from consideration. The Judiciary Committee, which has finished confirmation hearings for Kavanagh, still plans to vote next Thursday on whether to recommend that he be confirmed by the full Senate, a spokesman said. The White House called Feinstein’s move an “11th hour attempt to delay his confirmation.” Collins held an hour-long phone call with Kavanaugh on Friday, her spokeswoman confirmed. It had been a previously scheduled follow-up to an initial visit that Kavanaugh made to her office in August. It was not immediately clear if they discussed the new information. If Collins or Murkowski should vote for Kavanaugh, he is likely to be confirmed. Every other Republican in the Senate is expected to vote yes — and some Democrats from Trump-won states may join them — though it remains to be seen if the misconduct allegation will cost him any support. Feinstein said in a statement Thursday that she “received information from an individual concerning the nomination.” She said the person “strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision.” The FBI confirmed that it received the information Wednesday evening and included it in Kavanaugh’s background file, which is maintained as part of his nomination. The agency said that is its standard process. Feinstein’s statement that she had “referred the matter to federal investigative authorities” jolted Capitol Hill and threatened to disrupt what had been a steady path toward confirmation for Kavanaugh by Republicans eager to see the conservative judge on the court. Feinstein, who is up for re-election this year, has held the letter close. Democratic senators on the panel met privately Wednesday evening and discussed the information, according to Senate aides who were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Some senators, including the No. 2 Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, learned about the information for the first time at the meeting, according to one of the aides. A spokeswoman for Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., declined to confirm reports that the congresswoman had forwarded a letter containing the allegations to Feinstein. The spokeswoman said the office has a confidentiality policy regarding casework for constituents. A White House spokeswoman, Kerri Kupec, said the FBI has vetted Kavanaugh “thoroughly and repeatedly” during his career in government and the judiciary. She said Kavanaugh has had 65 meetings with senators — including with Feinstein — has sat through over 30 hours of testimony and publicly addressed more than 2,000 questions. “Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new ‘information’ about him,” she said. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Republican and a member of the committee, was also skeptical. “Let me get this straight: this is statement about secret letter regarding a secret matter and an unidentified person. Right,” he tweeted. Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was unaware of the information until it was made public, according to a GOP committee aide. Kavanaugh has undergone six federal background checks over his time in government, including one for the nomination, the aide said. Republished with permission
Roy Moore to hold press conference on campaign allegations
Former Alabama Chief Justice and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, along with his attorneys, will hold a press conference regarding what they call “false” allegations of sexual misconduct made against him during the campaign for U.S. Senate last fall. Moore has vehemently denied the allegations against him, calling them “politically motivated,” “completely false” and “malicious.” This will be Moore’s first news conference since December’s special election where Democrat Doug Jones bested him, thus becoming the first Democratic U.S. Senator from Alabama in a quarter-century. Earlier this month Moore filed a counterclaim for slander and defamation against Leigh Corfman, who accused him of making unwanted sexual advances after shed filed a defamation lawsuit against him in January. Moore claims Corman’s allegations caused “irrevocable damage” to his reputation “that affected the outcome of the Senate election in December 2017.” The press conference will be held at the Etowah County Commission Chambers at 3 p.m.
Roy Moore accuser Leigh Corfman files defamation lawsuit against him
The woman who said former U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 14, filed a defamation lawsuit against Moore and his campaign on Thursday. Leigh Corfman filed the suit in the Montgomery County Circuit Court. In November, The Washington Post published a bombshell report with the accounts of Corfman and three other women who claimed Moore sexually pursued them when he was in his 30s and they were in their teens. Corfman specifically said she was only 14 years old when Moore, then 32, approached her outside a courtroom in Etowah County, Ala. According to the report, he ultimately drove her to his home in the woods,told her she was pretty and kissed her, and then undressed her. Moore has vehemently denied Corfman’s allegations of abuse, calling them “politically motivated,” “completely false” and “malicious.” She asserts those words are defamatory in the suit. Corfman is not seeking financial compensation, only legal fees, and is looking for Moore to publicly apologize for what he has said about her. She is also seeking a court-enforced ban on Moore or his campaign that would prohibit him from allegedly criticizing her in the future. Moore’s campaign representative Brett Doster, responded to the suit by saying, “We look forward to transparently discussing these matters in a court of law.”
Donald Trump shies away from Roy Moore amid growing allegations
It’s arguably the most talked about Senate race in 2017, and President Donald Trump has taken a noticeable step back from special election in Alabama, as he continues to distance himself from GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore. Trump has not tweeted or spoken publicly about Moore since The Washington Post published an explosive report over a week ago with the accounts of four women who claim Moore sexually pursued them when he was in his 30s and they were in their teens. Since that time, five additional women have made accusations against Moore. They range from inappropriate conduct to groping and sexual assault. Trump’s lone comment since the news broke was made via White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, telling the White House press pool, “Like most Americans, the president believes we cannot allow a mere allegation, in this case, one from many years ago, to destroy a person’s life. However, the president also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside.” Some White House aides believe there’s more to his decision to sit back than meets the eye. They believe Trump — who has faced allegations of sexual misconduct himself and was caught on tape making lewd comments about women back in 2005 — is uncomfortable with the accusations against Moore, and is thus is leaving it to the Alabama voters to decide his fate. “We are uncomfortable with the explanations that Roy Moore has given to date,” said White House legislative director Marc Short. Speaking of Trump’s position, Short said, “Obviously if he did not believe that the women’s accusations were credible, he would be down campaigning for Roy Moore.” Moore is running to fill the Alabama U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions when he became attorney general, has vehemently denied allegations. He faces democrat Doug Jones on Dec. 12.
Mum’s the word as Donald Trump remains silent on Roy Moore allegations
He’s arguably the most vocal president America has ever seen, and yet President Donald Trump has remained uncharacteristically quiet on the allegations surrounding Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. Nearly a week after multiple women accused the former Alabama Chief Justice of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s, the POTUS has kept his lips sealed, twice dodging questions from reporters on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Trump, who has previously stopped his duties as Commander-in-Chief to weigh-in on just about everything — from the NFL, to “fake news,” to Tweeting insults to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un — is seemingly at a loss for words as allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore continue to grow and GOP lawmakers from across the country call on him to withdraw from the race. The White House, however, has not completely ignored the allegations. Last Friday, less than 24 hours, after the bombshell report against Moore was published, Trump’s Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders touched on them briefly. “Like most Americans, the president believes we cannot allow a mere allegation, in this case, one from many years ago, to destroy a person’s life,” said Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “However, the president also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside.” Moore faces Democratic opponent Doug Jones on Dec. 12. Should the allegations ultimately sink him, Republicans in the U.S. Senate would see their majority fall to 51-49.
Fox News’ Sean Hannity gives Roy Moore ultimatum: Explain yourself or get out of the race
Once an ardent supporter of Alabama Senate nominee Roy Moore, Fox News’ Sean Hannity has stopped defending the embattled Republican. Late Tuesday night, Hannity told his viewers “the judge has 24 hours” to explain his “inconsistencies.” “You must immediately and fully come up with a satisfactory explanation for your inconsistencies,” Hannity demanded. “You must remove any doubt. If he can’t do this, then Judge Moore needs to get out of this race. You know I do not and will never rush to judgment, because we have seen the media and politicians get it wrong so many times.” Moore, who is running for Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, is fending off accusations from five women who allege he sexually pursued them when he was in his 30s and they were in their teens. The news has caused rapid fallout from dozens within the Republican Party who have called on him to withdraw his name from next month’s special election if the allegations are true. “The American people deserve a hundred percent truth and honesty,” Hannity added. “We need correct answers the first time on issues this serious. Judge Moore you owe that to the people of Alabama, the Republican Party that you represent and to the country which is suffering under so many problems. We deserve answers, consistent answers, and truth.” Moore has denied the sexual misconduct allegations. He faces Democrat Doug Jones in a special election on Dec. 12.
Jeff Sessions on Roy Moore: ‘No reason to doubt’ Roy Moore accusers
On Tuesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, said during testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives he has “no reason to doubt” the women who have accused Alabama GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual misconduct. “I have no reason to doubt these young women,” Sessions told the House Judiciary Committee. Sessions, whose seat Moore is seeking in the U.S. Senate, made the remark during his testimony following a question from Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee asking him whether or not he believed Moore’s accusers, and whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) would investigate the allegations against Moore should he win the seat Sessions declined to weigh in on whether or not he believed Moore should drop out of the Dec. special election, citing federal ethics restrictions at the DOJ. He went on to say the department “will evaluate every case as to whether or not it should be investigated.” Moore has been under fire since The Washington Post published an explosive report Thursday afternoon with the accounts of four women who claim he sexually pursued them when he was in his 30s and they were in their teens. The news has caused rapid fallout from dozens within the Republican Party who have called on him to withdraw his name from next month’s special election if the allegations are true. Moore faces the Democratic nominee Doug Jones on Dec. 12.
Kay Ivey signs sex offender reporting bill into law
A bill to bring Alabama’s criminal code regarding sex offenders up-to-date with observed trends in sexual misconduct, particularly when technology is involved, has been signed in to law. SB301, sponsored by Mobile-Democrat Sen. Vivian Figures was signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday. “The most important duty of government is to keep our people safe. I proudly signed SB301, because it protects the vulnerable in our society by ensuring that reporting requirements for sex offenders are strict and enforced,” Ivey said. “Our laws must keep up with changes in our technology.” “I am thankful for the work of Senator Figures, all legislators, and Attorney General Steve Marshall in securing bipartisan passage of this important legislation,” Ivey added. SB301 codifies a total of five new criminal offenses into law. The legislation also makes changes to the existing sex-offender laws to strengthen reporting requirements and it clarifies parts of the existing statute. “This new law is an important step forward in updating our criminal code to combat new and troubling forms of sexual misconduct, many of which are made possible by evolving technology,” Figures commented. “As sponsor of this legislation, I thank the Attorney General’s Office and the Office of Prosecution Services for their leadership in developing and promoting the proposal. I also thank Governor Ivey for signing the bill into law.”
