Kavanaugh Denies New Allegations; Senate Hearing Thursday
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The Senate Judiciary Committee says it is reviewing new allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Attorney Michael Avenatti provided a statement from his client to the committee.

According to a document Avenatti posted on Twitter, the woman alleges she witnessed Kavanaugh “consistently engage in excessive drinking and inappropriate contact of a sexual nature with women in the early 1980s.”

The woman also made other accusations in her statement. 

In a statement Wednesday, Kavanaugh said: "This is ridiculous and from the Twilight Zone. I don't know who this is and this never happened."

Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct by two other women, putting his nomination for the high court at risk. He and one of the accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, will testify publicly Thursday before the Judiciary Committee.

Julie Swetnick is actually accusing Kavanaugh of being present when she was "gang raped." 

"I have a firm recollection of seeing boys lined up outside rooms at many of these parties waiting for their 'turn' with a girl inside the room," she said in the statement. "These boys included Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh."

Avenatti called for an FBI investigation into Swetnick's allegations.

"Under no circumstances should Brett Kavanaugh be confirmed absent a full and complete investigation," he said.

Swetnick says that Kavanaugh's statement on Fox News about his sexual abstinence during high school "is absolutely false and a lie." She claims to have seen him "consistently engage in excessive drinking and inappropriate contact of a sexual nature with women during the early 1980s."

Earlier, President Trump said he would have preferred a faster confirmation process for his Supreme Court nominee.

Speaking to reporters at the United Nations Wednesday, Trump says Senate Republicans "could not be nicer" in their treatment of the woman who claims Judge Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school.

Said Trump: "They could have pushed it through two and a half weeks ago and you wouldn't be talking about it right now, which is frankly what I would have preferred."

Senate Republicans are bringing in a veteran Arizona prosecutor to handle questioning about the allegations. Asked about the move, Trump said the lawmakers "could not be nicer" and "could not be more respectful."

Trump said he was "ok with that," but again defended Kavanaugh as a "gem."

A news release from committee chairman Chuck Grassley's office describes Rachel Mitchell as "a career prosecutor with decades of experience prosecuting sex crimes."

Mitchell worked in the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in Phoenix as the chief of the Special Victims Division, which covers sex crimes and family violence.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote Friday on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court.

The committee will be voting on whether to recommend Kavanaugh's nomination to the full Senate.

President Trump has accused Democrats of trying to "destroy" Kavanaugh with, "an array of False Accusations, the likes of which have never been seen before." GOP leaders say they intend to continue with Thursday's hearing as they investigate the allegations and despite the new accusations throwing the hearing in limbo, some Republicans said a vote could happen as early as Friday.

With his wife by his side, Kavanaugh pledged to clear his name Monday night, discussing for the first time whether he knew Ford.

"I may have met her, we did not travel in the same social circle, she was not a friend, not someone I knew," Kavanaugh said.

He denied forcing himself on her or anyone and also denied Deborah Ramirez's claim that he exposed himself to her at a Yale University party. 

Four people have sworn she told them she was sexually assaulted years before Brett Kavanaugh was nominated to the Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh, in written testimony released by the Senate Judiciary Committee, decried the "last-minute smears" leveled against him. It's worth highlighting that Kavanaugh's testimony was almost certainly submitted before Avenatti revealed his latest client's claims. 

Here is his written testimony, as prepared:

"Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Feinstein, and Members of the Committee: Eleven days ago, Dr. Ford publicly accused me of committing a serious wrong more than 36 years ago when we were both in high school. I denied the allegation immediately, unequivocally, and categorically. The next day, I told this Committee that I wanted to testify as soon as possible, under oath, to clear my 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. 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.

As I told this Committee the last time I appeared before you, a federal judge must be independent, not swayed by public or political pressure. That is the kind of judge I am and will always be. I 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.

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. Allegations of sexual assault must be taken seriously. Those who make allegations deserve to be heard. The subject of allegations also deserves to be heard. Due process is a foundation of the American rule of law.

Dr. Ford's allegation dates back more than 36 years, to a party that she says occurred during our time in high school. I spent most of my time in high school focused on academics, sports, church, and service. But I was not perfect in those days, just as I am not perfect today. I drank beer with my friends, usually on weekends. Sometimes I had too many. In retrospect, I said and did things in high school that make me cringe now. But that's not why we are here today. What I've been accused of is far more serious than juvenile misbehavior. I never did anything remotely resembling what Dr. Ford describes.

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.

I categorically and unequivocally deny the allegation against me by Dr. Ford. I never had any sexual or physical encounter of any kind with Dr. Ford. 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."

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