Trump questions Kavanaugh's accuser, says opponents want to 'destroy' nominee

[rooster59]

Trump questions Kavanaugh's accuser, says opponents want to 'destroy' nominee

By Doina Chiacu and Richard Cowan

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he introduces Supreme Court nominee judge Brett Kavanaugh in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 9, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday sought to cast doubt on the woman who has accused his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, saying if the attack was "as bad as she says" it would have been immediately reported to police.

 

After days of restrained comments on the allegations by California professor Christine Blasey Ford, Trump took to Twitter to question her account of what happened between her and Kavanaugh at a party in 1982 when they were in high school.

 

The tweets came as a Republican-controlled U.S. Senate committee struggled on how to proceed with Kavanaugh's nomination. Democrats have demanded more time for scrutiny and Republicans want to move ahead quickly with a confirmation vote in an increasingly volatile political climate ahead of the Nov. 6 congressional elections.

 

The Senate Judiciary Committee had delayed a vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation after Ford's allegations emerged last week, and her lawyers and committee staff are negotiating how and when she will testify. Republicans have given Ford's lawyers until the end of Friday to work out the terms, Politico reported, citing an unnamed Republican senator.

 

Senate Republicans proposed moving the hearing from Monday to Wednesday, a day earlier than Ford requested, Politico reported. It said Ford would testify first, then Kavanaugh.

 

Approval of Kavanaugh would cement conservative control of the Supreme Court and advance a White House effort to tilt the American judiciary farther right.

 

Trump and the White House had been careful not to malign Ford after her allegations surfaced, but Trump dropped the restraint in his tweets on Friday.

 

"I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents," Trump said. "I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!

 

"Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a fine man, with an impeccable reputation, who is under assault by radical left wing politicians who don’t want to know the answers, they just want to destroy and delay," Trump wrote.

 

Republican Senator Susan Collins, potentially a key vote on Kavanaugh's nomination, said at an event in Portland, Maine, that she was "appalled" by Trump's tweet.

 

"We know allegations of sexual assault are one of the most unreported crimes that exist," Collins said, according to the Portland Press Herald. "So I thought that the president’s tweet was completely inappropriate and wrong."

 

If the hearing proceeds, Republicans will be forced to walk a careful line in questioning Ford's account without alienating women voters ahead of the elections. Before the 2016 presidential election, more than a dozen women accused Trump of making unwanted advances.

 

'VILE ATTACK'

 

Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand denounced Trump's comments on Friday as a "vile attack."

 

"The most powerful man in the world just used his position and platform to attack a sexual assault survivor," she said on Twitter.

"This is the same man who has been credibly accused of more than a dozen cases of sexual assault or harassment."

 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, speaking at a gathering of evangelical voters in Washington, assured Kavanaugh would be confirmed.

 

"You watched the fight, you watched the tactics, but here is what I want to tell you - in the very near future, Judge Kavanaugh will be on the United States Supreme Court," McConnell told the Value Voters Summit, prompting a standing ovation.

 

"We're going to plow through all of this and do our job."

 

McConnell's goal has been to confirm Kavanaugh by Oct. 1, the start of the Supreme Court term.

 

Trump's Friday tweets contrasted to comments earlier in the week when he said Ford should be heard, even if it meant a delay in the confirmation process. At a rally in Las Vegas on Thursday night he had told supporters, "We'll let it play out, and I think everything is going to be just fine."

 

Ford has said Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982 when both were high school students in Maryland. Kavanaugh has denied the allegation and pledged to testify at Monday's hearing.

 

Ford's lawyers and committee staff spoke by phone on Thursday night, a panel spokesman said without giving details. A person familiar with the call said Ford could testify by next Thursday.

 

The telephone discussion ended with no decision, according to media reports. The reports also said Ford's lawyers wanted Kavanaugh to appear separately first and that she wanted to be questioned by senators, not outside counsel.

 

Ford's legal team has said she strongly prefers that her allegations are fully investigated before she testifies.

 

White House adviser Kellyanne Conway, who has urged that Ford to be heard, said on CNN on Friday that Ford's requests were a "laundry list of demands."

 

The Senate panel must approve Kavanaugh's confirmation before a vote by the full Senate, where Republicans hold a 51-49 majority.

Kavanaugh's confirmation to the lifetime position would be the second of the Trump administration and solidify conservative control of the nation's top court.

 

Ford's team has sought guarantees of her safety because of death threats. Kavanaugh and his wife also had received threats, a senior White House official said.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-22

[stevenl]

No surprise. Some republicans seem to backtrack on Kavanaugh, so he now trying to push him through anyway. Which will most likely happen.

[khwaibah]

Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Chances Improving in Betting Market

Josh Appelbaum

 

4 hours ago

Politics

• Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation odds have reopened at -250, which translates to a 71.4% implied probability.
• He is a +300 longshot to withdraw from SCOTUS consideration (25% chance).

A little more than a week ago, the political world was turned upside down when decades-old sexual assault allegations surfaced against President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, putting his confirmation odds in serious jeopardy.

Democrats have demanded that Kavanaugh’s confirmation be put on hold until the allegations are fully vetted and Kavanaugh’s accuser is able to tell her story to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Meanwhile, Republicans appear resolute on pushing Kavanaugh’s confirmation forward.

 

https://www.actionnetwork.com/politics/brett-kavanaugh-confirmation-chances-odds-supreme-court-updated-scotus-trump-september-21-2018

[lovelomsak]

15 minutes ago, stevenl said:

No surprise. Some republicans seem to backtrack on Kavanaugh, so he now trying to push him through anyway. Which will most likely happen.

Yes I hope they push him through and push that b^tch Ford out on the street.

[underlordcthulhu]

This man sums up the situation pretty well

Hail Mary!

?

[attrayant]

I'm really sickened by how the narrative from republicans has become "So what? It was just attempted rape.  Attempted.  Nothing happened!  Attempted rape isn't that big a deal!"

 

For those of you who have young daughters, think about this.  Your daughters are seeing all over social media, posts written by adults that say teenage boys trying to rape them is "just how boys are", and "it's just a bit of horseplay", or "just harmless fun, that's how boys are".  Think about what that's doing to your daughter.

 

And when you're done thinking about that, now think about all the teenage boys who are reading the same thing.  Nice, from the party of family values.

 

(paraphrased from Emily Holmes)

[Chomper Higgot]

15 minutes ago, attrayant said:

I'm really sickened by how the narrative from republicans has become "So what? It was just attempted rape.  Attempted.  Nothing happened!  Attempted rape isn't that big a deal!"

 

For those of you who have young daughters, think about this.  Your daughters are seeing all over social media, posts written by adults that say teenage boys trying to rape them is "just how boys are", and "it's just a bit of horseplay", or "just harmless fun, that's how boys are".  Think about what that's doing to your daughter.

 

And when you're done thinking about that, now think about all the teenage boys who are reading the same thing.  Nice, from the party of family values.

 

(paraphrased from Emily Holmes)

The party of family (and Christian) values!

[OneMoreFarang]

55 minutes ago, lovelomsak said:

Yes I hope they push him through and push that b^tch Ford out on the street.

Why is she a b^tch?

I read the Washington Post article and this makes clear that she didn't make up her accusations somewhere within the last month or years.

I don't believe everything all the Hollywood "stars" come up with. It seems many of them just want to be in the limelight. But this situation is ver different from the usual MeToo accusations.

Ford didn't want to talk about this and it's easy to understand why she didn't involve the police or her parents many years ago.

She came out with this because she is concerned that a person like Kavanaugh becomes a judge in the supreme court.

Isn't it obvious that a judge in that court should be 100% clean? People might argue if it is relevant what he did 30 years ago when he was drunk. But there is nothing to argue that he should not blatantly lie now. If it established that he lied now for the vetting for the supreme court then he has no right to be a judge - any judge even in the smallest province.

Let him testify and let her testify next Thursday and let's go from there.

If he is innocent then he and his supporters have nothing to worry about.

And if it becomes clear that he lied then everybody should be happy that he won't become a supreme court judge. Or do you want a liar in that position?

[OneMoreFarang]

24 minutes ago, attrayant said:

I'm really sickened by how the narrative from republicans has become "So what? It was just attempted rape.  Attempted.  Nothing happened!  Attempted rape isn't that big a deal!"

 

For those of you who have young daughters, think about this.  Your daughters are seeing all over social media, posts written by adults that say teenage boys trying to rape them is "just how boys are", and "it's just a bit of horseplay", or "just harmless fun, that's how boys are".  Think about what that's doing to your daughter.

 

And when you're done thinking about that, now think about all the teenage boys who are reading the same thing.  Nice, from the party of family values.

 

(paraphrased from Emily Holmes)

I agree with you that attempted rape is not trivial.

But I think lot of drunk horny boys do things in one moment which they understand was wrong when they are sober again.

"Boys" like that could apologize and maybe the involved girl accepts this apology and both try to forget that it ever happened.

(I don't say she should accept an apology. It's entirely up to her.)

 

I think what makes this situation worse is the accused lying of Kavanaugh now. If someone has to lie about his past to be able to become supreme court judge then something is very wrong. And the fact that many Republicans don't care if he lied or not should be an alarm bell for everybody.

This guy is supposed to be a fair judge in the highest US court. How can anybody not want to know the truth about him? And how could anybody let him get away with lying to get that "job"? It shows how deranged a substantial part of the US is.

[wayned]

If the hearing does take place the Dems are even afraid to let the 11 male Senators on the committee ask there own questions, They want to have an independent consul, yet to be named, ask the questions for them.  Why?  They are afraid to answer the questions themselves so that the American Public cannot hear the contempt and dreaming attitude that they have for women that they will not be able to keep out of their voices. Can you imagine how Hatch, Kennedy and Grassley would phrase/ask their questions.

[bendejo]

No, the Repubs want to get her in the chamber and 'destroy' her, like they did with Anita Hill.

 

Condie Rice has been sitting behind him at the hearings, but haven't come across any media pundits expounding on that.

 

 

[neeray]

25 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And if it becomes clear that he lied then everybody should be happy that he won't become a supreme court judge. Or do you want a liar in that position?

Well said. Thank you.

 

I see this as another Trump ram-rod job. He doesn't give a rats ass about Kavanaugh's faults or what he did or didn't do to Blasey Ford.

Trump's interests are all personal, whatever furthers HIS goals.

What a fine example these two set for the youth of today (NOT) !

[Boon Mee]

The woman is obviously lying. Can't remember any details. 

Kavanaugh to be sitting on the Supreme Court next week. 

[Becker]

1 hour ago, lovelomsak said:

Yes I hope they push him through and push that b^tch Ford out on the street.

HRC was right.

[wayned]

21 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

The woman is obviously lying. Can't remember any details. 

Kavanaugh to be sitting on the Supreme Court next week. 

Really!  If Kavanaugh had any intestinal fortitude, he would go to Trump and tell him that he is going to withdraw his nomination if Trump doesn't authorize an FBI investigation so at least an attempt to find the truth.  He should want to know the truth to clear his name.  I also can believe that he has no recollection of whether he was involved with the indictment or not after 35 years, the affects of alcohol and "getting laid" was the main thing on most high school boy's mind who attended a party with "unattached" girls.

 

I am Trump's age and grew up in a beach town in Delaware and there were 7 students in my graduating class.  Beer was available through the back door of "Uncle Ern's" in Salisbury Maryland and was consumed in quite large amounts at parties.  When Memorial day came all bets were off as the tourists moved in for 1 to 4 weeks stays and fresh meat was available.  If someone came to me today and said that I did what Kavenaugh allegedly did to her I'd have to just throw up my hands and say that I didn't remember because I wouldn't.  

[malibukid]

2 hours ago, attrayant said:

I'm really sickened by how the narrative from republicans has become "So what? It was just attempted rape.  Attempted.  Nothing happened!  Attempted rape isn't that big a deal!"

 

For those of you who have young daughters, think about this.  Your daughters are seeing all over social media, posts written by adults that say teenage boys trying to rape them is "just how boys are", and "it's just a bit of horseplay", or "just harmless fun, that's how boys are".  Think about what that's doing to your daughter.

 

And when you're done thinking about that, now think about all the teenage boys who are reading the same thing.  Nice, from the party of family values.

 

(paraphrased from Emily Holmes)

boys will be boys

[malibukid]

27 minutes ago, wayned said:

Really!  If Kavanaugh had any intestinal fortitude, he would go to Trump and tell him that he is going to withdraw his nomination if Trump doesn't authorize an FBI investigation so at least an attempt to find the truth.  He should want to know the truth to clear his name.  I also can believe that he has no recollection of whether he was involved with the indictment or not after 35 years, the affects of alcohol and "getting laid" was the main thing on most high school boy's mind who attended a party with "unattached" girls.

 

I am Trump's age and grew up in a beach town in Delaware and there were 7 students in my graduating class.  Beer was available through the back door of "Uncle Ern's" in Salisbury Maryland and was consumed in quite large amounts at parties.  When Memorial day came all bets were off as the tourists moved in for 1 to 4 weeks stays and fresh meat was available.  If someone came to me today and said that I did what Kavenaugh allegedly did to her I'd have to just throw up my hands and say that I didn't remember because I wouldn't.  

i grew up in Malibu pretty liberal times and a pretty liberal town,  but when a woman said no we knew it meant "no" end of story.  this idiot had no class, nor moral compass.  just a spoiled child of privilege who thought he could get a way with it.  this is the kind of trash the GOP wants on the supreme court because it furthers their agenda, at any cost. the irony is that this was once a party that touted it values as being the party of Lincoln.  

[Sir Swagman]

Worry about a judge that may be a liar? Why? Compared to PO(TU)S he would be a rank amateur. 

[Tug]

He needs to be properly vetted attempted rape do a 15 year old is very serious we all know that doesent bother Donald one bit he is more worried about how this guy will protect him I think he will be seated at great cost to the republicans and the people as well

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The tweets came as a Republican-controlled U.S. Senate committee struggled on how to proceed with Kavanaugh's nomination.

What's the struggle?

Nine members of the 115th US Congress have had to step down after allegations of sexual misconduct against them became public. https://www.businessinsider.com/congress-sex-scandals-forced-out-of-office-2018-5

Republican congressmen and Trump cheered with each Democratic congressman resignation.

But in a bizarre twist the Republican Senate now seems to give Kavanaugh a pass to get by perception political control of the Supreme Court.

Sickening to democracy.

 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, wayned said:

If someone came to me today and said that I did what Kavenaugh allegedly did to her I'd have to just throw up my hands and say that I didn't remember because I wouldn't.  

Wouldn't you remember if you were often drunk and "played" with girls?

Or would you remember that you were drunk and often behaved like an a$$hole but you wouldn't remember all the names of the girls?

 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

The woman is obviously lying. Can't remember any details. 

Kavanaugh to be sitting on the Supreme Court next week. 

You must be blind and deaf or just ignorant. She remembers enough details, just read the news.

Or do you want to read if he touched her first left or right or up or down? I guess these are the questions you would ask her in that hearing next week and if she does not remember any minor detail anymore then she must be obviously lying? Correct?

Maybe one day someone will break all your bones and then you can testify in exactly which order he broke them. If you get it wrong then you were lying, it never happened.

[neeray]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Wouldn't you remember if you were often drunk and "played" with girls?

Or would you remember that you were drunk and often behaved like an a$$hole but you wouldn't remember all the names of the girls?

 

We all have memories that function differently but I can vividly remember each and every time I got drunk in my young days and vividly remember what I did on those stupid occasions. Fortunately, there is no need for me to recall myself attempting to cut off a girl's air by covering her mouth or attempting to remove her clothes.

Kavanaugh, grow a pair, come clean, man up and say "yes, I did that one night when I got pissed but deeply regret the lifelong harm I caused Blasey Ford". Better yet, withdraw, you are in no position to pass judgement on others.

[Stargeezr]

Yup another quality Judge by Trump the p*ssy grabbing President.

Geezer

[Rdrokit]

[neeray]

1 minute ago, Rdrokit said:

Is this Kavanaugh or Trump?

Oh, I get it, it's Kavanaugh. Trump would be forcing his hand on the puxxy area. ?

[lovelomsak]

I  think Ford is just lieing plain and simple. Time changes memory any one would says they can remember what happened at a party 30 years ago is lieing right from the start. No one can do that. She is just trouble. Any one who believes her is stupid or just does want real justice and likes to see some one use the justice system to stalk and attack.and interfere with government for their own purposes.

[lostlink]

Shrinks with more credibility than Ford - - - Newhart, Frasier, Jennifer Melfi

[neeray]

1 minute ago, lovelomsak said:

I  think Ford is just lieing plain and simple. Time changes memory any one would says they can remember what happened at a party 30 years ago is lieing right from the start. No one can do that. She is just trouble. Any one who believes her is stupid or just does want real justice and likes to see some one use the justice system to stalk and attack.and interfere with government for their own purposes.

Speak for yourself. I am 70 today but I can remember being young and dumb and royally pissed at 18. And I can remember that party like it was yesterday (not because they are good memories either). The same for the few other times that I got drunk, clear memories.

[wayned]

10 minutes ago, Rdrokit said:

Actually should read:  "This is when Trump nominated him to be a Supreme Court Justice".