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A2 UP FRONT
Monday 17 SepteMber 2018

Woman accusing Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct comes forward

clothing and covered her equivocally deny this al- vanaugh on grounds that
mouth when she tried to legation. I did not do this as a justice he could vote to
scream. back in high school or at undercut the Roe v. Wade
"I thought he might inad- any time," Kavanaugh said. ruling legalizing abortion in
vertently kill me," Christine Top Senate Democrats, the U.S.
Blasey Ford told The Wash- including New York Sen. Collins and Murkowski have
ington Post in her first inter- Chuck Schumer, immedi- not said how they will vote.
view. "He was trying to at- ately called for postpone- Neither senator is on the Ju-
tack me and remove my ment of a Thursday vote by diciary Committee, which
clothing." the Senate Judiciary Com- is scheduled to vote on a
Ford, now 51 and a clini- mittee on whether to rec- recommendation for the
cal psychology professor at ommend that the full Sen- lifetime appointment.
Palo Alto University in Cali- ate confirm Kavanaugh to Ford told the Post that Ka-
fornia, says she was able replace retired Justice An- vanaugh and a friend —
to get away after Kava- thony Kennedy on the na- both "stumbling drunk," she
In this Sept. 6, 2018, file photo, after more than an hour of delay naugh's friend jumped on tion's highest court. Repub- says — corralled her into a
over procedural questions, President Donald Trump's Supreme top of them and everyone licans gave no indication bedroom during a house
Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh waits to testify before the Sen-
ate Judiciary Committee for the third day of his confirmation tumbled. Sunday that they would do party in Maryland in the
hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Kavanaugh, now 53 and so. early 1980s when she was
Associated Press a federal appeals judge A spokesman for Sen. around 15 and Kavanaugh
in Washington, has de- Chuck Grassley of Iowa, was around 17. She says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The were in high school has nied the allegation. He re- the Judiciary committee's Kavanaugh groped her
woman who has accused come forward, alleging in peated that denial again Republican chairman, said over her clothes, grinded
Supreme Court nominee an interview that Kavana- Sunday through the White Kavanaugh already went his body against hers and
Brett Kavanaugh of sexual ugh pinned her to a bed, House. through several days of tried to take off her one-
misconduct when they clumsily tried to remove her "I categorically and un- hearings and was investi- piece swimsuit and the out-
gated by the FBI. He said fit she wore over it.
the committee's top Demo- Kavanaugh covered her
crat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein mouth with his hand when
of California, who was first she tried to scream, she
notified of the allegation says. She escaped when
in late July, should have Kavanaugh's friend jumped
brought the matter to the on them and everyone
panel earlier. tumbled, she says.
"It raises a lot of questions In the interview, Ford says
about Democrats' tactics she never revealed what
and motives," said Taylor had happened to her un-
Foy, the spokesman. til 2012, when she and her
The White House accused husband sought couples
Feinstein, who revealed the therapy.
existence of the letter late Portions of her therapist's
last week, of mounting an notes, which Ford provided
"11th hour attempt to de- to the Post, do not mention
lay his confirmation." Both Kavanaugh by name but
Democratic and Republi- say Ford reported being at-
can senators questioned tacked by students "from
her handling of the allega- an elitist boys' school" who
tion. went on to become "highly
Feinstein called on the FBI respected and high-rank-
to investigate Ford's story ing members of society in
"before the Senate moves Washington."
forward on this nominee." Kavanaugh attended a
Kavanaugh's nomination private school for boys in
by President Donald Trump Maryland while Ford at-
has divided the Senate, tended a nearby school.
with most Democrats op- Ford's husband, Russell
posing him and most Re- Ford, also told the news-
publicans supporting him. paper that his wife de-
But the allegations of sexu- scribed during therapy be-
al misconduct, particularly ing trapped in a room with
coming amid the #MeToo two drunken boys and that
movement against sexual one of them had pinned
harassment, coupled with her to a bed, molested her
Ford's emergence could and tried to prevent from
complicate matters, espe- screaming. He said he re-
cially as key Republican called his wife using Ka-
senators, including Susan vanaugh's last name and
Collins of Maine and Lisa expressing concern that
Murkowski of Alaska, are Kavanaugh — then a fed-
under enormous pressure eral judge — might some-
from outside groups who day be nominated to the
want them to oppose Ka- Supreme Court.q