Trump declares Kavanaugh allegation 'false,' and Avenatti viciously fires back
A third woman has come forward to accuse Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, and President Trump-foe Michael Avenatti has her back.
Julie Swetnick went to high school near Kavanaugh and said he was at parties where incapacitated girls were "gang raped," she revealed in a sworn affidavit Wednesday. Avenatti represents both Swetnick and Stormy Daniels, the porn star who says she had an affair with the president, leading Trump to compare himself and Kavanaugh.
In a Wednesday tweet, Trump slammed Avenatti as a "third-rate lawyer who is good at making false accusations" against both himself and Kavanaugh, in what seems to be the president's first public mention of the attorney.
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.
Avenatti quickly fired back, and he made it personal. In a tweet, the attorney asked, "'False accusations?' Like those crimes your fixer Cohen pled to?" referencing the apparent hush money payments paid to Daniels that landed longtime Trump lawyer Michael Cohen in deep legal trouble. "You are so inept that your 'best and brightest' are Cohen and [Rudy] Giuliani," Avenatti added.
Swetnick joins Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez in publicly accusing Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. Kavanaugh has denied all the allegations against him, and Trump has defended the nominee every step of the way.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Pig kidney transplant recipient dies
Speed Read Richard Slayman has passed away two months after undergoing the historic procedure
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Putin replaces defense minister with economist
Speed Read In a surprising shake-up, Putin replaced Sergei Shoigu with civilian economist Andrei Belousov
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 13, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - a portrait of humanity, cool re-brand, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rain
Speed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
EPA limits carcinogenic emissions at 218 US plants
Speed Read The new rule aims to reduce cancer-causing air pollution in areas like Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Strong Taiwan earthquake kills 9, injures hundreds
Speed Read At magnitude 7.4, this was Taiwan's biggest earthquake in 25 years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
EPA sets auto pollution rule that boosts EVs
Speed Read The Biden administration's new rules will push US automakers toward electric vehicles and hybrids
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
More than 150 people dead following earthquake in Nepal
Speed Read The death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue digging through rubble
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Nearly 1,000 birds dead in one night after striking building in Chicago
Speed Read The birds died after colliding with the McCormick Place convention center next to Lake Michigan
By Justin Klawans Published
-
At least 1 dead at Burning Man as thousands remain stranded from flooding
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Earthquake rattles Southern California as Tropical Storm Hilary hits
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published