Calls grow to delay Kavanaugh vote amid sex assault allegations

Calling Ford’s allegations “uncorroborated”, as the other main attack line against them goes, is simply wrong.

Moderate senators from both parties had argued that Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford should be given the chance to testify before the panel. Remember that Ford seems to have been telling the same story for six years at least, while Kavanaugh and Judge try to get through a weekend on the same page. That process is “very thorough, I can assure you”, she said. “I don’t think we need a three-ring circus it should be done behind closed doors”, she said. She said that at a party in suburban Maryland in the early 1980s, a drunken Kavanaugh had pinned her to a bed, groped her and attempted to remove her clothes.

He added of Mr Kavanaugh: “He is one of the great intellects and one of the finest people that anybody has known”. He is an outstanding intellect and outstanding judge respected by everybody. “Never even had a little blemish on his record”.

It was not clear if the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee would reopen hearings.

Trump denied speaking to Kavanaugh on Monday despite the nominee spending most of the day at the White House, according to reports.

As Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of NY, called for a delay in the vote, two committee Republicans – all 11 on the GOP side are men – Sens.

Republicans, who hold a narrow majority on the committee and in the Senate, are eager to confirm Kavanaugh in time for him to join the high court when it begins its fall term in two weeks. After initially guarding her anonymity, Ford “decided to take control of this and tell this in her own voice” after the allegations were leaked, her lawyer said. “With Kavanaugh’s hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me”.

“Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday”.

The White House indicated Monday that it is continuing to stand by Kavanaugh but that it expects Ford will offer testimony to the Judiciary Committee.

Another Republican member, Senator Lindsey Graham, said he is willing to hear from Ms Ford provided that it is “done immediately” to keep the confirmation process on track.

But Trump acknowledged there could be a delay in approving the nominee as pressure built for Congress to reopen hearings to review the bombshell allegation. Wilkinson has not returned calls from CNN seeking comment. If Republicans bring up the fact that Ford’s allegation wasn’t reported or relayed to anyone for more than 30 years – until Kavanaugh’s name emerged as a possible Supreme Court justice – they will be accused of attacking a woman.

Mark Judge also denies the accusation that he witnessed the assault.

Ford made a decision to go public after reporters began contacting her last week.

Ford’s lawyer, Debra Katz, told United States media her client had been ambivalent about the pressure that would come with speaking out publicly.

Mrs Katz told NBC’s Today: “She believes that if were not for the severe intoxication of Brett Kavanaugh, she would have been raped”.

She added, “What concerns me is all of a sudden we are in this period where a woman makes an accusation against a man, and all of a sudden what she says is gospel”.

The move would delay a planned vote in the Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

Earlier, Trump said “a little delay” may be needed in an upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Kavanaugh. Bob Corker of Tennessee, said the vote should be postponed until the committee heard from Ford. Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham of SC said he would “gladly listen” to Ford’s account in person so the confirmation process can continue as scheduled.

“This has not changed”, said White House spokesman Kerri Kupec on Monday.