Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday responded to the latest allegation against him, likening the idea of him orchestrating "gang rape" to something from the science fiction show "The Twilight Zone."
Kavanaugh is set to testify Thursday about sexual misconduct allegations against him, and his first accuser, California professor Christine Blasey Ford, has also been invited to testify. The latest accusation, however, goes far beyond Ford’s, alleging Kavanaugh in high school helped facilitate and participated in "gang rape" at parties, where crowds of men preyed on women.
"This is ridiculous and from the Twilight Zone. I don't know who this is and this never happened," Kavanaugh said in a statement.
President Donald Trump, who nominated Kavanaugh this summer, also tweeted his dismissal of the allegation. Lawyer Michael Avenatti, who also represents adult-film actress Stormy Daniels in her case against Trump, brought the accusation from his client Julie Swetnick. She alleges in an affidavit Kavanaugh was present at a party where she and other girls were drugged and "gang" raped.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has tentatively scheduled a vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination for Friday, the day after Ford and Kavanaugh are set to testify. From there, Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) would likely schedule a vote, which he promised he would do relatively soon.
Trump attacked Avenatti’s credibility in his tweet, calling him a third-rate lawyer and a low-life.
"Avenatti is a third rate lawyer who is good at making false accusations, like he did on me and like he is now doing on Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He is just looking for attention and doesn’t want people to look at his past record and relationships - a total low-life!" Trump wrote.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1044991766309621760
Avenatti has used his prominence in the media to appear on numerous programs Wednesday to argue for his client’s case. He would not allege Kavanaugh actually assaulted Swetnick, however, pointing to her general case against Kavanaugh.
Here is the video.
He doesn't give a clear yes or no. pic.twitter.com/fI0QcCd6yN
— Andrew Kugle (@AndrewJKugle) September 26, 2018
Democrats have argued against Kavanaugh having a presumption of innocence in this case. Many of them announced they believe Ford despite witnesses not backing up her claim, and when a second accuser came forward with an uncorroborated story, Democrats said Kavanaugh bore the weight of disproving the allegations.