Kavanaugh’s trial and what’s to come

Joshua Schuetz
Staff Writer

Two more women have come forward accusing US judge Brett Kavanaugh, who was nominated by President Trump to the Supreme Court, of sexual harassment.

The second woman to come forward, Deborah Ramirez, alleged that Kavanaugh assaulted her during their time at Yale, during a drinking game. 

Kavanaugh’s nomination is already facing headwinds as he has been accused of sexual assault during his high school years by Dr. Christine Blassey Ford. Both Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford were students at the time when the events described in the allegations took place.

The second victim’s story takes place after Ford’s, during Kavanaugh’s freshman year at Yale University. 

The New Yorker published an article detailing Ramirez’s account, as well as Kavanaugh’s response.

Several friends of Ramirez and Kavanaugh have questioned her account, according to the New Yorker, including a male friend of Kavanaugh’s who was there when the events described ostensibly took place, and a female former friend of Ramirez’s.

Others in her social circle defended her, saying that Kavanaugh was known to drink and become belligerent when intoxicated. 

He allegedly exposed himself in front of her, egged on by friends who were also inebriated at the time. Ramirez is a registered Democrat, but has said that her coming forward was not politically motivated. 

The judge has denied the accusation, saying that the events described “did not happen.” 

The third woman to come forward has yet to be named, but the events supposedly took place during her high school years, according to USA Today.

No formal complaint has been filed, although Michael Avenetti, a lawyer who has represented adult  film actress Stormy Daniels against President Trump, tweeted on Sunday that he had information about the assault.

Brett Kavanaugh was nominated to the US Supreme Court in 2018 by President Donald Trump. The Senate confirmation process has been ridden with controversies, with the sexual assault accusations coming to light in the latter part of it.

There are fears among some in the GOP that standing by Kavanaugh could cost them votes with suburban women, and particularly among the college educated, who broke hard for Clinton in 2016. 

These allegations also come at a time when the #MeToo Movement, comprised of women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted, has succeeded in bringing sexual abusers in Hollywood, the media, and other industries to account.

Dr. Ford is set to testify before the Senate on Thursday.

Feature photo courtesy of the Associated Press.