Senate Republicans aim to discredit 1 Kavanaugh accuser with hearsay on sexual tastes
On Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans emailed hundreds of journalists a statement from Dennis Ketterer, a former TV meteorologist in Utah, who says he was in a brief relationship with Julie Swetnick, one of the women accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. In his statement, Ketterer says that during his weeks-long 1993 relationship with Swetnick, she once told him she enjoyed group sex, had engaged in such activity in high school, and never mentioned Kavanaugh or "said anything about being sexually assaulted, raped, gang-raped, or having sex against her will."
A congressional committee releasing "a statement that included such explicit and unconfirmed details about a member of the public" is "unprecedented," The Washington Post reports. Swetnick said in a sworn affidavit that Kavanaugh had been present at a house party in 1982 where she was the victim of a gang rape. The Senate Republicans said Ketterer's statement was provided "under penalty of felony" — an odd phrase — and did not explain how it contradicted Swetnik's affidavit.
Her attorney, Michael Avenatti, released a statement on Tuesday from another woman who says she "witnessed firsthand Brett Kavanaugh, together with others, 'spike' the 'punch' at house parties I attended with Quaaludes and/or grain alcohol" with the understood "purpose of making girls more likely to engage in sexual acts and less likely to say 'No.'" Avenatti called Ketterer's statement a "fabricated" "piece of garbage" and urged the FBI to look into both his and Swenick's allegations.
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.
In an interview with the Post, Ketterer — a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Maryland as a Democrat in 1996 — says he approached Sen. Orrin Hatch's (R-Utah) office Friday after discussing his memories with leaders of his Mormon church. He said "this has nothing to do with party," he doesn't know Kavanaugh, and he only wanted to "do the right thing" and "find a back-channel way to Mrs. Kavanaugh" because he sympathized with the nominee's wife, Ashley.
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
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Indie film's 'very brief' use of AI sparks backlash and calls for boycotts
Talking Points Did the creators of a new horror movie make a deal with the artificial intelligence devil?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Could Taylor Swift swing the election?
Today's Big Question The pop star has outsized influence — and that extends beyond the music industry
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New Jersey first lady exits race to replace Menendez
Speed Read Tammy Murphy dropping out paves the way for Rep. Andy Kim to become the state's next senator
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russia blames Ukraine for deadly ISIS Moscow attack
Speed Read Putin has ignored the Islamic State's claim of responsibility for the concert hall shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump-RNC pact puts Trump legal bills ahead of GOP
Speed Read The former president has struck a deal with the Republican National Committee to put donations toward his legal bills
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Vietnam president resigns amid scandal
Speed Read Vietnam loses its second president in two years as Vo Van Thuong steps down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas migrant law in limbo after Supreme Court OK
Speed Read The law has been blocked again, mere hours after the Supreme Court allowed the state to arrest migrants
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Cubans rally for 'power and food' in rare protests
Speed Read The protests came after 18-hour rolling blackouts and food supply shortages
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why Trump cannot raise bond to avert asset seizure
speed read If the former president does not post the $454M bond in his civil fraud case by Monday, his assets can be seized
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Putin's preordained win marred by protests
speed read Voters participated in a silent protest — endorsed by late opposition leader Alexei Navalny — against the president
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published