Judge Brett Kavanaugh issued a strong response to Democrats' call for him to withdraw his name from consideration for the Supreme Court Monday, declaring he “will not be intimidated” by false accusations and threats.
“I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process,” Kavanaugh said in a letter sent to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein. “The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. The last-minute character assassination will not succeed."
Sen. Orrin Hatch's office published the entirety of Kavanaugh's letter on Twitter Monday:
Brett Kavanaugh: "I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process. The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) September 24, 2018
drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. The last- minute character assassination will not succeed." pic.twitter.com/ciK3OQVt2G
One week after Kavanaugh was accused in a letter from California professor Christine Ford of allegedly trying to rape her at a high school party 35 years ago, another women, fellow Yale student Deborah Ramirez, came forward over the weekend claiming she thinks she remembers Kavanaugh having exposed himself to her at a party in college – though she’s admitted she was drunk at the time, has “gaps” in her memory and isn’t entirely sure it was Kavanaugh.
Without naming names, Kavanaugh blasted Senate Democrats for sitting on Ford’s letter for six months, during which he answered a bevy of questions from Senate members and appeared numerous times for questioning during his confirmation hearing – none of which included any mention of the accusations.
"There is now a frenzy to come up with something – anything – that will block this process and a vote on my confirmation from occurring,” Kavanaugh wrote to the Senate, adding that any sexual assault allegations are “smears, pure and simple.”
"They are also a threat to any man or woman who wishes to serve our country. Such grotesque and obvious character assassination—if allowed to succeed—will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from service," he added.
Both Kavanaugh and Ford have agreed to testify before the Senate in an open hearing scheduled for Thursday, though details haven't been finalized.