The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday released Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh's prepared opening remarks for Thursday's scheduled hearing on a sexual misconduct allegation being waged against him.
Senate Democrats have called for there to be a FBI investigation into the three sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh, before Thursday's hearing, but the hearing scheduled to address the first allegation from Christine Blasey Ford is expected to occur as planned.
Christine Blasey Ford, a professor of psychology at Palo Alto University in California, accused Kavanaugh of drunkenly pinning her to a bed, groping her, and trying to stifle her screams at a high school party in the early 1980s. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations, as has his former classmate Mark Judge, who Ford claims was also in the room at the time of the alleged incident. Two other people who Ford alleges were at the party in question have also denied any knowledge of the party or sexual assault.
In his prepared written testimony, Kavanaugh notes that when he was publicly accused by Ford, he immediately denied the allegation unequivocally and categorically. He goes on to say that he wanted to testify as soon as possible "under oath" to clear his name.
"Over the past few days, other false and uncorroborated accusations have been aired. There has been a frenzy to come up with something—anything, no matter how far-fetched or odious—that will block a vote on my nomination. These are last-minute smears, pure and simple. They debase our public discourse," Kavanaugh says. "And the consequences extend beyond any one nomination. Such grotesque and obvious character assassination—if allowed to succeed—will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from serving our country."
He says he will not be "intimidated into withdrawing from this process."
"This effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. I am here this morning to answer these allegations and to tell the truth. And the truth is that I have never sexually assaulted anyone—not in high school, not in college, not ever," Kavanaugh says. "Sexual assault is horrific. It is morally wrong. It is illegal. It is contrary to my religious faith. And it contradicts the core promise of this Nation that all people are created equal and entitled to be treated with dignity and respect."
Kavanaugh writes of his high school years, admitting he was "not perfect" during those days and that he sometimes drank "too many beers," which makes him "cringe" in retrospect. He also emphasized his commitment to academics, sports, church, and service.
"What I’ve been accused of is far more serious than juvenile misbehavior. I never did anything remotely resembling what Dr. Ford describes," Kavanaugh says. "The allegation of misconduct is completely inconsistent with the rest of my life. The record of my life, from my days in grade school through the present day, shows that I have always promoted the equality and dignity of women."
He concludes his remarks by unequivocally denying Ford's allegation against him, saying he never had a "any sexual or physical encounter of any kind" with her.
"I am not questioning that Dr. Ford may have been sexually assaulted by some person in some place at some time. But I have never done that to her or to anyone. I am innocent of this charge," Kavanaugh says.
In addition to Ford's allegation, the New Yorker reported accusations Sunday from Deborah Ramirez, who attended Yale University with Kavanaugh in the 1980s. She has accused the Supreme Court nominee of drunkenly thrusting his penis in her face, causing her to inadvertently touch it as she pushed him away, at a party when he was a freshman.
Attorney Michael Avenatti, who represents Stormy Daniels in a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, also identified and released a "sworn declaration" from a woman who claims Kavanaugh was present during multiple "gang" rapes in the early 1980s. His client, Julie Swetnick, says Kavanaugh and Judge were "present" when she became a "victim of one of these 'gang' or 'train' rapes" in 1982.
The latest allegation prompted Kavanaugh to respond on Wednesday, "This is ridiculous and from the Twilight Zone. I don’t know who this is and this never happened."