Kavanaugh denied allegations of sexual misconduct in forceful terms during an interview on Fox News on Monday night. But while Thomas in 1991 memorably denounced the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and its staff for digging up “sleaze” and “dirt” on him in what he called a “high-tech lynching for uppity blacks,” Kavanaugh declined to speculate on whether the attacks on him are politically motivated or even to acknowledge repeated questions about the motives of those promoting the accusations.
Kavanaugh and his wife Ashley appeared on the verge of tears at times during an interview with Martha MacCullum for her show The Story.
Kavanaugh said he has met his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, but does not recall ever being at a party with her, let alone assaulting her.
“I never had any sexual or physical activity with Dr. Ford. I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone in high school or otherwise,” Kavanaugh said.
Ford claims Kavanaugh while drunk pinned her against a bed during a teens-only summertime house party when they were in high school during the early 1980s, tried to take her one-piece bathing suit off, and put his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
But Kavanaugh flatly denied the charge, and went further than that.
MacCallum pressed Kavanaugh about whether the two of them had an exchange that Ford may have misinterpreted. He denied it.
Some supporters of Ford have suggested that Kavanaugh possibly doesn’t remember assaulting her because of heavy drinking. But Kavanaugh, while acknowledging drinking beer in high school and college, told MacCallum he never drank so much that he couldn’t remember what happened the night before.
He also offered personal information of the type rarely talked about in public.
“And yes, there were parties. And the drinking age was 18, and yes, the seniors were legal and had beer there. And yes, people might have had too many beers on occasion and people generally in high school – I think all of us have probably done things we look back on in high school and regret or cringe a bit,” Kavanagh said. “But that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about an allegation of sexual assault. I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone. I did not have sexual intercourse or anything close to sexual intercourse in high school or for many years thereafter.”
Kavanaugh also denied a newer charge from a woman whose hazy recollection of Kavanaugh indecently exposing himself at a party when he was a freshman in college was published by The New Yorker this past weekend. He repeatedly pointed out that neither of the two accusations against him has been corroborated by witnesses or other evidence.
Both Ford and Kavanaugh are scheduled to testify Thursday before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, although lawyers for Ford are continuing to wrangle with Judiciary Committee staff about the terms and conditions of her appearance.
Kavanaugh’s wife Ashley during the interview Monday night talked about having to describe the accusations against her husband with the couple’s two daughters.
“This – it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult these conversations with your children, which we’ve had to have some broader terms for our youngest,” Ashley Estes Kavanaugh said. “But they know Brett. And they know the truth. And we told them at the very beginning of this process this will be not fun sometimes. You’re going to hear things that, people feel strongly, and you need to know that. And just remember you know your dad.”
Judge Kavanaugh’s answers were often repetitive – he mentioned the words “fair process” 17 times, for instance. But his denials were unequivocal.
Early reactions to the interview have tended to break down along partisan lines: Supporters of Kavanaugh believe him, opponents don’t.
