This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/26/us/politics/kavanaugh-news.html

The article has changed 35 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Brett Kavanaugh, the Accusations and the Fallout: Catch Up on the News Brett Kavanaugh, the Accusations and the Fallout: Catch Up on the News
(about 2 hours later)
Since his nomination to the Supreme Court by President Trump in July, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh has been a leading figure in the news.Since his nomination to the Supreme Court by President Trump in July, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh has been a leading figure in the news.
At first, he faced intense scrutiny over his qualifications, his work in President George W. Bush’s administration and his politics. But the focus has shifted in recent weeks, as several women publicly accused Judge Kavanaugh of sexual assault or misconduct. At first, he faced intense scrutiny over his qualifications, his work in President George W. Bush’s administration and his politics. But the focus has shifted in recent weeks, as three women publicly accused Judge Kavanaugh of sexual assault or misconduct.
Judge Kavanaugh, who has denied the accusations, and the first woman to come forward with one, Christine Blasey Ford, are expected to testify on Thursday at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.Judge Kavanaugh, who has denied the accusations, and the first woman to come forward with one, Christine Blasey Ford, are expected to testify on Thursday at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Here’s a guide to the latest coverage from The Times.Here’s a guide to the latest coverage from The Times.
________
Three women have come forward so far with allegations about Judge Kavanaugh, the latest as recently as Wednesday.Three women have come forward so far with allegations about Judge Kavanaugh, the latest as recently as Wednesday.
First, Dr. Blasey, a research psychologist, accused him of pinning her down at a high school party, trying to take off her clothing and covering her mouth to keep her from screaming at a high school party. (Read our profile of her.) First, Dr. Blasey, a research psychologist, accused him of pinning her down at a high school party, trying to take off her clothing and covering her mouth to keep her from screaming. (Read our profile of her.)
On Sunday, The New Yorker reported that Deborah Ramirez, who works for the Boulder County housing department in Colorado and sits on the board of a domestic violence organization, said that Judge Kavanaugh exposed himself to her during a drunken college party. (Here’s our profile of her.)On Sunday, The New Yorker reported that Deborah Ramirez, who works for the Boulder County housing department in Colorado and sits on the board of a domestic violence organization, said that Judge Kavanaugh exposed himself to her during a drunken college party. (Here’s our profile of her.)
On Wednesday, Julie Swetnick, who has held a variety of public- and private-sector jobs over the years, including working for federal government agencies, said that he was “present” when she was raped at a high school party.On Wednesday, Julie Swetnick, who has held a variety of public- and private-sector jobs over the years, including working for federal government agencies, said that he was “present” when she was raped at a high school party.
Although he admitted on Wednesday to having some regrets about his choices in high school, Judge Kavanaugh has adamantly denied the allegations.Although he admitted on Wednesday to having some regrets about his choices in high school, Judge Kavanaugh has adamantly denied the allegations.
[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]
________
Republicans were quick to suggest that the claims were part of a smear campaign, with President Trump accusing Democrats of being “con artists.” Meanwhile, Judge Kavanaugh took the extraordinary measure on Monday of defending himself in a Fox News interview, the first time in memory that a Supreme Court nominee sat for a televised interview before a confirmation vote.Republicans were quick to suggest that the claims were part of a smear campaign, with President Trump accusing Democrats of being “con artists.” Meanwhile, Judge Kavanaugh took the extraordinary measure on Monday of defending himself in a Fox News interview, the first time in memory that a Supreme Court nominee sat for a televised interview before a confirmation vote.
Still, conservatives are divided over how to proceed. The nomination rests on the votes of a few Senate Republicans — one of them, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, has warned not to prejudge the allegations.Still, conservatives are divided over how to proceed. The nomination rests on the votes of a few Senate Republicans — one of them, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, has warned not to prejudge the allegations.
Meanwhile, a group of Mormon women called for a pause in the confirmation process, applying pressure to the four Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (its adherents lean heavily Republican). At a news conference on Wednesday evening, Mr. Trump said the accusations against Judge Kavanaugh “are all false,” but also said he “can always be convinced” after watching Dr. Blasey’s testimony on Thursday.
On Sept. 14, a group of 65 women signed a letter in support of Judge Kavanuagh’s nomination. Recently, one of those women, Renate Schroeder Dolphin, learned Judge Kavanaugh had listed the phrase “Renate Alumnius” on his high school yearbook page.
Two of his classmates said that the references to “Renate” reflected unsubstantiated boasting by the school’s football players about their conquests. Judge Kavanaugh’s lawyer said the language referred to his client and Ms. Dolphin’s attending a high school event together “and nothing else.” For her part, Ms. Dolphin said, “I can’t begin to comprehend what goes through the minds of 17-year-old boys who write such things, but the insinuation is horrible, hurtful and simply untrue.”
As Judge Kavanaugh’s high school and college years have come under scrutiny, a common theme has emerged with respect to the accusations: heavy drinking.
Meanwhile, a group of Mormon women called for a pause in the confirmation process, pressuring the four Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (its adherents lean heavily Republican).
The sensitivity of the situation, particularly in the #MeToo era, is not lost on the 11 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, all of them white men. They have retained a female prosecutor to help question one of the accusers, Dr. Blasey, at a Thursday hearing. Here’s what we know about that prosecutor, Rachel Mitchell.The sensitivity of the situation, particularly in the #MeToo era, is not lost on the 11 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, all of them white men. They have retained a female prosecutor to help question one of the accusers, Dr. Blasey, at a Thursday hearing. Here’s what we know about that prosecutor, Rachel Mitchell.
________
The allegations have also activated liberals, who held rallies and participated in walkouts on Monday and are planning another day of action on Thursday. Survivors of abuse have also rallied around a new hashtag, #WhyIDidntReport, to highlight the difficulties, fear, anger and shame that so often surround sexual harassment and assault.The allegations have also activated liberals, who held rallies and participated in walkouts on Monday and are planning another day of action on Thursday. Survivors of abuse have also rallied around a new hashtag, #WhyIDidntReport, to highlight the difficulties, fear, anger and shame that so often surround sexual harassment and assault.
“With reference to Dr. Ford, the credibility is there for her. So I believe her,” said Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who has emerged as a leading Democratic defender of the women who have accused Judge Kavanaugh. (She is a member of the Judiciary Committee.) “I don’t think either one of these women have any reason to lie.” “With reference to Dr. Ford, the credibility is there for her. So I believe her,” said Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who has emerged as a leading Democratic defender of the women who have accused Judge Kavanaugh. (She is a member of the Judiciary Committee.) “I don’t think either one of these women have any reason to lie,” she said before the third woman had come forward.
The political stakes are very high, with some Democrats hoping that the derailment of Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation could buy them time to win back the Senate in the November midterm elections, and, consequently, gain control over the confirmation of Mr. Trump’s next nominee.The political stakes are very high, with some Democrats hoping that the derailment of Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation could buy them time to win back the Senate in the November midterm elections, and, consequently, gain control over the confirmation of Mr. Trump’s next nominee.
________
Many have seen parallels between the accusations facing Judge Kavanaugh today and the ones from Anita Hill, who accused Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual misconduct during his Supreme Court confirmation process more than a quarter-century ago. Read more about her testimony and key moments from Judge Thomas’s hearings, and listen to an episode from The Daily that revisits it. Ms. Hill, now a professor at Brandeis University, has weighed in herself, writing in a New York Times Op-Ed that, this time around, the Senate Judiciary Committee can “do better.’Many have seen parallels between the accusations facing Judge Kavanaugh today and the ones from Anita Hill, who accused Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual misconduct during his Supreme Court confirmation process more than a quarter-century ago. Read more about her testimony and key moments from Judge Thomas’s hearings, and listen to an episode from The Daily that revisits it. Ms. Hill, now a professor at Brandeis University, has weighed in herself, writing in a New York Times Op-Ed that, this time around, the Senate Judiciary Committee can “do better.’