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Everything on Brett Kavanaugh, the Accusations and the Fallout Brett Kavanaugh, the Accusations, the Fallout and What’s Next
(about 2 hours later)
Updated Sept. 28Updated Sept. 28
Uncertainty over the confirmation battle continued a day after a Senate committee and the nation heard emotional and contradicting accounts from President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee and the woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her decades ago. Uncertainty over the Supreme Court confirmation battle continued a day after a Senate committee — and the nation — heard emotional and contradicting accounts from President Trump’s nominee and the woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her decades ago.
Responding to demands from key Senate Republicans, Mr. Trump ordered the F.B.I. on Friday to open an investigation into accusations of sexual assault leveled against his nominee, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh. The investigation will delay a confirmation vote by as much as one week. Responding to demands from key Senate Republicans, Mr. Trump ordered the F.B.I. on Friday to open an investigation into accusations of sexual assault leveled against his nominee, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh. Follow the latest developments on what that means here.
The decision came after Senator Jeff Flake, a crucial swing vote, called for the F.B.I. to investigate and said he would not support final confirmation until then. (The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Friday to advance the nomination to the full Senate. Judge Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.) The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Friday to advance the nomination to the full Senate, but the F.B.I. investigation will delay a confirmation vote by as much as one week.
Mr. Flake, who is retiring at the end of the term, said he was seeking an F.B.I. investigation “limited in time and scope to the current allegations that are there.” Follow the latest developments on what that means here.
Hours earlier, after Mr. Flake indicated that he would vote yes on confirmation, two women blocked an elevator door and demanded his attention, castigating him for his decision and sharing that they had been sexually assaulted.
Here’s a guide to the latest coverage from The Times.Here’s a guide to the latest coverage from The Times.
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Mr. Trump’s announcement came after Senator Jeff Flake, a crucial swing vote, said he would not support Judge Kavanaugh’s final confirmation until the F.B.I. investigated the accusations.
Mr. Flake, who is retiring at the end of the term, said he was seeking an F.B.I. investigation “limited in time and scope to the current allegations that are there.”
Hours earlier, after Mr. Flake indicated that he would vote yes on confirmation, two women blocked an elevator door and demanded his attention, castigating him for his decision and sharing that they had been sexually assaulted.
“I believed he was going to rape me,” Christine Blasey Ford, one of several women to make accusations in recent days against Judge Kavanaugh, said on Thursday in her harrowing account before the committee.“I believed he was going to rape me,” Christine Blasey Ford, one of several women to make accusations in recent days against Judge Kavanaugh, said on Thursday in her harrowing account before the committee.
“This is a circus,” the judge said, denying her allegations.“This is a circus,” the judge said, denying her allegations.
Dr. Blasey, a university professor and research psychologist, described the terror she felt one summer day more than 30 years ago when, she said, a drunken teenage Judge Kavanaugh pinned her on a bed, tried to rip her clothes off and clapped his hand over her mouth as she pleaded for help.Dr. Blasey, a university professor and research psychologist, described the terror she felt one summer day more than 30 years ago when, she said, a drunken teenage Judge Kavanaugh pinned her on a bed, tried to rip her clothes off and clapped his hand over her mouth as she pleaded for help.
Appearing before the same committee later in the day, Judge Kavanaugh delivered a blistering defense, denouncing a partisan “frenzy” bent on destroying his nomination.Appearing before the same committee later in the day, Judge Kavanaugh delivered a blistering defense, denouncing a partisan “frenzy” bent on destroying his nomination.
The contrast was stark. While Dr. Blasey was deferential, even solicitous, Judge Kavanaugh was bristling with outrage and grievance. The accounts left no room for compromise: Senators were left to choose which one they believed.The contrast was stark. While Dr. Blasey was deferential, even solicitous, Judge Kavanaugh was bristling with outrage and grievance. The accounts left no room for compromise: Senators were left to choose which one they believed.
Americans were transfixed. Online, donations poured in to a fund-raising campaign set up on behalf of Dr. Blasey after she mentioned it in the hearing. And, on television, C-Span became an unlikely town square for everyday people to share their deeply personal reactions to the unfolding drama.Americans were transfixed. Online, donations poured in to a fund-raising campaign set up on behalf of Dr. Blasey after she mentioned it in the hearing. And, on television, C-Span became an unlikely town square for everyday people to share their deeply personal reactions to the unfolding drama.
We heard from dozens of readers who identified themselves as trauma victims and said they struggled with their own memories as Dr. Blasey shared her story.We heard from dozens of readers who identified themselves as trauma victims and said they struggled with their own memories as Dr. Blasey shared her story.
For his part, Mr. Trump praised Judge Kavanaugh, attacked Democrats and urged the Senate to vote.For his part, Mr. Trump praised Judge Kavanaugh, attacked Democrats and urged the Senate to vote.
“Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting,” the president tweeted. “The Senate must vote!”“Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting,” the president tweeted. “The Senate must vote!”
Watch a recap of Thursday’s hearing here.Watch a recap of Thursday’s hearing here.
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Dr. Blasey was the first to accuse Judge Kavanaugh, but she was not alone. Two other women have come forward publicly in recent days with allegations against him, while an additional anonymous accusation surfaced on Wednesday.Dr. Blasey was the first to accuse Judge Kavanaugh, but she was not alone. Two other women have come forward publicly in recent days with allegations against him, while an additional anonymous accusation surfaced on Wednesday.
At the hearing, Dr. Blasey came across as an Everywoman — an Everywoman with a Ph.D. (Read our profile of her.)At the hearing, Dr. Blasey came across as an Everywoman — an Everywoman with a Ph.D. (Read our profile of her.)
This week, Deborah Ramirez, who works for the Boulder County housing department in Colorado and sits on the board of a domestic violence organization, accused Judge Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her at a drunken college party. (Here’s our profile of her.)This week, Deborah Ramirez, who works for the Boulder County housing department in Colorado and sits on the board of a domestic violence organization, accused Judge Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her at a drunken college party. (Here’s our profile of her.)
Then, on Wednesday, Julie Swetnick, who has held a variety of public- and private-sector jobs, including working for federal government agencies, said that Judge Kavanaugh was “present” when she was raped at a high school party.Then, on Wednesday, Julie Swetnick, who has held a variety of public- and private-sector jobs, including working for federal government agencies, said that Judge Kavanaugh was “present” when she was raped at a high school party.
Dr. Blasey and Ms. Swetnick both said Mark Judge, one of Judge Kavanaugh’s high school friends, was present at the time. Here’s what we know about him.Dr. Blasey and Ms. Swetnick both said Mark Judge, one of Judge Kavanaugh’s high school friends, was present at the time. Here’s what we know about him.
A culture of heavy drinking, one that some describe as disrespectful to women, emerged as another common theme among the accusations.A culture of heavy drinking, one that some describe as disrespectful to women, emerged as another common theme among the accusations.
In an anonymous letter sent to a Republican senator, a woman said her daughter witnessed Judge Kavanaugh drunkenly push a woman he was dating against a wall after they left a Washington bar one night in 1998.In an anonymous letter sent to a Republican senator, a woman said her daughter witnessed Judge Kavanaugh drunkenly push a woman he was dating against a wall after they left a Washington bar one night in 1998.
Although he admitted on Wednesday to having regrets about his choices in high school, Judge Kavanaugh has adamantly denied the allegations. He defended himself, tearfully and angrily, again at the Thursday hearing.Although he admitted on Wednesday to having regrets about his choices in high school, Judge Kavanaugh has adamantly denied the allegations. He defended himself, tearfully and angrily, again at the Thursday hearing.
Rumors have circulated about the accusers’ allegations. We debunk five viral ones here.Rumors have circulated about the accusers’ allegations. We debunk five viral ones here.
[Make sense of the people, issues and ideas shaping the 2018 elections with our new politics newsletter. Here’s our latest one on Wednesday’s news.][Make sense of the people, issues and ideas shaping the 2018 elections with our new politics newsletter. Here’s our latest one on Wednesday’s news.]
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Republicans have suggested that the accusations are part of a smear campaign, with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina angrily calling it “the most unethical sham” he has seen since the start of his political career.Republicans have suggested that the accusations are part of a smear campaign, with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina angrily calling it “the most unethical sham” he has seen since the start of his political career.
Democrats, meanwhile, applauded Dr. Blasey’s courage and said that her appearance before the committee bolstered her credibility.Democrats, meanwhile, applauded Dr. Blasey’s courage and said that her appearance before the committee bolstered her credibility.
On Thursday, the American Bar Association had called for postponing Friday’s vote, a call that Heather K. Gerken, the dean of Yale Law School, echoed on Friday. The editorial board of America Magazine, a Jesuit publication, withdrew its endorsement of Judge Kavanaugh.On Thursday, the American Bar Association had called for postponing Friday’s vote, a call that Heather K. Gerken, the dean of Yale Law School, echoed on Friday. The editorial board of America Magazine, a Jesuit publication, withdrew its endorsement of Judge Kavanaugh.
The stakes are high, with some Democrats hoping that a 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 stakes are high, with some Democrats hoping that a 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 accusations have rallied survivors of abuse around a new hashtag, #WhyIDidntReport, which highlights the difficulties, fear, anger and shame that so often surround sexual harassment and assault. The onslaught of news about sexual violence can also be emotionally trying. Here’s how some are coping.The accusations have rallied survivors of abuse around a new hashtag, #WhyIDidntReport, which highlights the difficulties, fear, anger and shame that so often surround sexual harassment and assault. The onslaught of news about sexual violence can also be emotionally trying. Here’s how some are coping.
Here’s a look at some of the response from the right and the left.Here’s a look at some of the response from the right and the left.
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Many see parallels between Dr. Blasey and the other women and Anita Hill, who accused Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his Supreme Court confirmation process more than a quarter-century ago.Many see parallels between Dr. Blasey and the other women and Anita Hill, who accused Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment 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, weighed in herself, writing in a New York Times Op-Ed that, this time around, the Senate Judiciary Committee can “do better.”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, weighed in herself, writing in a New York Times Op-Ed that, this time around, the Senate Judiciary Committee can “do better.”
On Friday, Ms. Hill said at a conference in Houston that she tried to keep an open mind while watching Dr. Blasey’s and Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony, “but at the end of the day, I certainly believed her.”