The future of Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court after a third woman came forward to make accusations of sexual assault or misconduct at Brett Kavanaugh.
Julie Swetnick said in a sworn statement sent to the Senate Judiciary Committtee, she said at a number of parties in the 1980s, she witnessed efforts by Mr Kavanaugh and Mark Judge to get teenage girls “inebriated and disoriented so they could then be “gang raped” in a side room or bedroom by “a train of numerous boys”.
“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.
Both Mr Kavanaugh and Mr Judge have denied the claims
Good afternoon from Capitol Hill in Washington DC, where the city is abuzz with the latest drama surrounding the confirmation process of Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court.
Barely 24 hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee was to hear testimony from Mr Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, a woman who has accused him of trying to forcibly remove her clothes at a high school party three decades ago - claims he denies - a third woman stepped forward with new claims.
Lawyer Michael Avanatti posted on Twitter details of an affidavit signed by Ms Swetnick.
He also posted a photograph of the woman:
Here is our latest story on the topic:
Meanwhile, earlier on Wednesday morning, Ms Ford revealed she had produced for the senate committee, sworn testimonies from four people - one of them her husband - saying that she had talked about the alleged assault several years ago.
Mr Kavanaugh's lawyer, Beth Wilkinson, is currently talking on CNN about the latest allegations made of her client.
"He is outraged. He does not know this woman," she said. Of Mr Avenatti's decision to reveal the the accusations the day before the committee was to hear from Mr Kavanaugh: "Any lawyer worth their salt would talk these allegations straight to the police."
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has said that Thursday's hearing with Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford would go forward as planned even as new allegations surfaced the nominee.
Mr Grassley, an Iowa Republican, told reporters on Wednesday that while they are investigating the new allegation, there will not be a delay of the prescheduled hearing, saying “tomorrow is very important”.
Mr Grassley, an Iowa Republican, told reporters on Wednesday that while they are investigating the new allegation, there will not be a delay of the prescheduled hearing, saying “tomorrow is very important”.
Now, Mr Avenatti is hitting back at Mr Trump - on Twitter, of course:
In New York, at a joint appearance with Japan's prime minister, Shinzō Abe, Mr Trump said Mr Avenatti was a low-life. He said it was unfathomable that people were coming forward with allegations at this point. He said he though Mr Kavanaugh would survive the storm of controversy and serve on the court for a "very long time". He attacked Democrats for failing to raise the issue earlier. "The good thing is the public is very smart".
Bill O'Reilly, the former Fox News host who was fired after the company settled claims with five women over the years for a range of alleged misconduct including outright verbal abuse, has come to Mr Kavanaugh's defence - in typical style
Lawyers for Ms Ford have provided the Senate Judiciary Committee with the results of a polygraph test on her accusation Ms Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teens.
The documents indicate the Ford took the test on August 7 at a Hilton Hotel in Maryland, according to the Associated Press.
Ms Ford has told The Washington Post she hired a former FBI agent to conduct the test as she considered whether to come forward with her accusation, and she said she passed it.
Via Politico: Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley will announce he's seeking an injunction in federal court designed to stop a final vote on Brett Kavanaugh, asserting an obstruction of his constitutional duty to advise and consent on nominees
This take from a veteran US journalist:
An official at a nonprofit working to end sexual and domestic violence describes an Arizona prosecutor set to question Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday about sexual assault allegations as "straightforward".
Tasha Menaker of the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual Violence said Wednesday that she has worked with Rachel Mitchell for three years to develop sexual assault reporting guidelines for medical and legal specialists in Arizona's most populous county.
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have said they want to speak to the latest woman accusing Mr Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said the committee would be be extending an invitation to Julie Swetnick to provide a sworn statement, and South Carolina's Lindsey Graham said he wanted the committee to talk to her “today”.
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said the committee would be be extending an invitation to Julie Swetnick to provide a sworn statement, and South Carolina's Lindsey Graham said he wanted the committee to talk to her “today”.
Mr Kavanaugh testified behind closed doors and under oath on Tuesday and denied allegations that he was present at parties in the 1980s where women were targeted and gang-raped, Time magazine has reported.
On Thursday, Mr Kavanaugh plans to tell the senate committee "did things in high school that make me cringe now”, but will deny the allegations against him, according to testimony prepared for the committee.
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/BK%20Written%20Testimony%20-%20Submitted%20Sept%2026.pdf
Thanks very much for following our coverage of all this drama. Hope to see you soon.
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