Lawmakers contend with new sexual misconduct allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh
A woman who knew Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh when he was in high school has alleged that Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her in the early 1980s, a report from The New Yorker found Friday.
The woman, who has asked to remain anonymous, came forward when President Trump nominated Kavanaugh back in July, providing Democratic lawmakers with information that led to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) referring the matter to the FBI on Thursday. The allegation describes an incident during a party; the woman accuses Kavanaugh of holding her down and attempting to force himself on her. She says that he, along with a classmate of his, had been drinking, and turned up music to muffle her protests before she escaped the room.
"I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation," Kavanaugh told The New Yorker in a statement. "I did not do this back in high school or at any time." Kavanaugh's former classmate said, "I have no recollection of that."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released a letter Friday signed by 65 women who knew Kavanaugh when he attended Georgetown Prep, an all-boys school in Maryland. The women signed to support a statement that says Kavanaugh "has always treated women with decency and respect."
A White House representative called the allegations an "11th hour attempt to delay" Kavanaugh's confirmation, while critics raised the question of how the GOP gathered 65 signatures from Kavanaugh's distant acquaintances so quickly without prior knowledge of the allegations. The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Kavanaugh's nomination next week. Read more at The New Yorker.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
What does Trump's Treasury secretary pick mean for the economy?
In the Spotlight Scott Bessent was once a Democratic donor. Now he'll serve Trump.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 6, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 6, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 6, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 6, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriage
Speed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba have a rough day in defamation court
Speed Read Trump's audible grousing as E. Jean Carroll testified earned him a warning he could be thrown out of court, and Habba showed she 'doesn't know what the hell she's doing'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published