Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh fights back against sexual assault claims

THE questions turned excruciatingly awkward as a high profile judge embroiled in a very public personal drama sat down for a TV interview today.

DONALD Trump’s chosen candidate for the Supreme Court says he will “not be intimidated into withdrawing” his nomination amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

In July, Mr Trump picked Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill the court seat vacated by retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. But Mr Kavanaugh still needs to be confirmed by a vote in the US Senate.

His nomination has been rocked by two disturbing allegations from his years at high school and university.

The first of them came from university professor Christine Blasey Ford, who claimed Mr Kavanaugh forced himself on her at a party when they were high school students.

Dr Ford said a “stumbling drunk” Mr Kavanaugh pinned her on a bed, tried to remove her clothes and then covered her mouth when she tried to scream for help.

She didn’t tell anyone about the incident until a therapy session with her husband in 2012.

Multiple classmates Ms Ford identified as being present at the party have since said they have no recollection of it.

In an interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum today, Mr Kavanaugh denied he was ever “at any such party”.

“I have never sexually assaulted anyone. Not in high school, not ever. I’ve always treated women with dignity and respect,” he said.

“I was never at any such party. The other people who are alleged to be present have said they do not remember any such party.

“I am not questioning and have not questioned that perhaps Dr Ford at some point in her life was sexually assaulted by someone in some place. But what I know is I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone.”

Brett Kavanaugh: "I think all of us have probably done things we look back on in high school and regret or cringe a bit, but that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about an allegation of sexual assault. I've never sexually assaulted anyone." https://t.co/HvY7xtcpV3 pic.twitter.com/TmsjBFnYO7

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 24, 2018

The interview took a rather excruciating turn as Ms MacCallum delved into Mr Kavanaugh’s personal life, and he insisted he had engaged in no sexual activity of any kind during the years in question.

“I did not have sexual intercourse or anything close to sexual intercourse in high school or for many years thereafter. And the girls from the schools I went to and I were friends -” he said.

“So you’re saying that through all these years that are in question, you were a virgin?” Ms MacCallum interjected.

“Correct. Many years after. I’ll leave it at that. Many years after.”

Pretty much everyone’s face during that exchange. Pic: Fox News

The second allegation came from 53-year-old Deborah Ramirez, who accused Mr Kavanaugh in new claims reported by The New Yorker yesterday.

Ms Ramirez said Mr Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a college party at Yale University in the 1980s, thrust his genitals into her face and caused her to touch them without her consent as she pushed him away.

She called for the FBI to investigate the alleged incident.

Mr Kavanaugh denied her story too, calling it “a smear, plain and simple”.

“I never did any such thing. Never did any such thing. The other people alleged to bethere don’t recall any such thing,” he said.

“If such a thing had happened, it would’ve been the talk of campus. The women I knew in college and the men I knew in college said that it’s inconceivable that I could’ve done such a thing.”

Christine Blasey Ford.

Christine Blasey Ford.

Mr Kavanaugh’s denials today echoed those in a letter he sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee overnight.

“These a smears, pure and simple. And they debase our public discourse. But they are also a threat to any man or woman who wishes to serve our country,” Mr Kavanaugh wrote.

“Such grotesque and obvious character assassination, if allowed to succeed, will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasians from service.

“The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. The last-minute character assassination will not succeed.”

Mr Trump is standing by Mr Kavanaugh. Speaking to reporters today, the president called him “an outstanding person” who has been “great at everything he’s ever done”.

He said the allegations were “totally political” and “could be one of the single most unfair, unjust things to happen to a candidate for anything”.

Republicans in Congress have struck, if anything, a more strident tone than Mr Trump.

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

Brett Kavanaugh. Pic: AFP

Earlier, Mr Trump sparked a backlash when he tweeted about Dr Ford’s claims.

“I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local law enforcement authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time and place!” Mr Trump said.

His comments provoked a seething response from sexual violence campaigners, who pointed out that many sexual assault claims go unreported.

Dr Ford has agreed to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Mr Kavanaugh will appear before the committee to respond immediately afterwards.

The New York Times reports he will present calendars from 1982 showing he was out of town when the party supposedly took place.

Republicans have scoffed at calls for the FBI to step in, questioning what it would actually investigate.

“I’m a big fan of the FBI, but they don’t investigate sex assault cases. There are very, very few federal sex assault cases,” Republican Senator Trey Gowdy told CBS.

“My first question would be, get the FBI to investigate what? There’s no crime scene to process, there’s no forensics to evaluate.

“I don’t know what people expect the FBI to do, they’re not human polygraphs. So they can’t tell us who is telling the truth.”

Mr Kavanaugh could yet face more allegations of misconduct.

Michael Avenatti, the lawyer representing adult film star Stormy Daniels in the legal furore surrounding her affair with Mr Trump, has chimed in to suggest he represents another woman with “credible information regarding Judge Kavanaugh”.

“We will be demanding the opportunity to present testimony to the committee,” Mr Avenatti said. “The nomination must be withdrawn.”