The wife of embattled Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, has spoken out alongside her husband for the first time since the emergence of several sexual assault accusations against the senior judge. In an exclusive interview with Fox News, yesterday, Ashley Kavanaugh said that her husband was a “decent” and “kind” man, and unequivocally refuted the accusations leveled against him.
“This process is incredibly difficult,” she said of the past few weeks. “Harder than we imagined. But at the end of the day, our faith is strong.”
As for the Supreme Court nominee himself, he was unwavering in his total denial of any wrongdoing. “What I know is the truth, and the truth is I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone,” he declared. The furor was kicked up when a California professor, Christine Blasey Ford, publically accused Kavanaugh of forcefully covering her mouth while attempting to remove her clothing at a party back in the 1980s. Ford said that she was afraid for her life.
But Kavanaugh firmly denied that he was even in attendance at the party in question.
“I was never at any such party,” the judge insisted, detailing the exact location of the house the assault where the assault is alleged to have taken place. “The other people who alleged to be present have said they do not remember any such party. A woman who was present, another woman who was present who was Dr. Ford’s lifelong friend has said she doesn’t know me and never remembers being at a party with me at any time in her life.”
When asked whether he knew Ford personally, Brett said that they “may have met,” but that they were certainly not friends. “We did not travel in the same social circles,” he clarified.
“Perhaps Dr. Ford at some point in her life was sexually assaulted by someone at some place,” Kavanaugh added, “but what I know is I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone.”
As for his wife, she stood by her husband, repeatedly assuring the public that he is a man of integrity and good character.
“I know Brett. I know who he is,” Ashley Kavanaugh noted. “I don’t know what happened to [Ford] and I don’t even want to go there. I feel badly for her family. I feel badly for her through this process. This process is not right.”
When pressed on what he thought was behind such devastating accusations, Kavanaugh refused to speculate, opting instead to emphasize that he is seeking to face a fair process and clear his name. “I want a fair process where I can defend my integrity, and I know I’m telling the truth,” the judge said.
As for the accusation detailed in the New Yorker at the weekend which suggested Kavanaugh had exposed himself to a classmate, the judge said he “never did any such thing.”
“The other people alleged to be there don’t recall any such thing,” he added. “If such a thing had happened, it would have been the talk of campus.”
Ashley also spoke of the painful conversations she has been forced to have with her children about their father. “It’s very difficult to have these conversations with your children, which we’ve had to have,” she explained. “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. People feel strongly and you need to know that and just remember, you know your dad.’”
Brett Kavanaugh and his wife, Ashley, will be interviewed tonight at 7pmE on @marthamaccallum @FoxNews. This is an outstanding family who must be treated fairly!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2018
As accuser Christine Blasey Ford prepares to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, other senior Republicans have come out in fierce defense of Kavanaugh.
“Even by the far left’s standards, this shameful, shameful smear campaign has hit a new low,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor yesterday, as reported by CNN. “I want to be perfectly clear about what has taken place. Senate Democrats and their allies are trying to destroy a man’s personal and professional life on the basis of decades-old allegations.”
“I’m ready to move forward after the hearing as soon as possible,” added Senator Lindsey Graham, as reported by Politico. “I have no doubt something happened to Ms. Ford. I really don’t know her. What I’ve got before me is unknown time, unknown location, no credible verification. Unless that changes, that’s where I’m at.”
Other key Republicans have noted the importance of Ford’s testimony, due to commence Thursday. Many have remained tight-lipped regarding their prospective vote, noting that thatthe accuser’s words may play a big part in their final decision on Judge Kavanaugh. “I want to see what happens in the hearing on Thursday,” said Sen. Marco Rubio when asked whether or not he was still a yes vote. “Let’s wait and see what happens on Thursday. I am very supportive of Judge Kavanaugh, but I want to hear her testimony,” added Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).
“Once we get a chance to have a hearing, then we’ll figure out where we go from there. I think our members are taking this very seriously,” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 3 Republican. “Most of our members are going to wait ‘til Thursday. … Thursday is kind of the key day in this.”
In an appearance on Fox News Tuesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders assured the public that President Trump is keen to get Kavanaugh’s nomination to a final confirmation vote.
“I do think it’s unfair to continue to drag the process out,” Sanders explained, noting that Kavanaugh has been willing to answer every question asked by the committee and that he will continue to respond to the most recent accusations leveled against him.
Sanders noted that “good people” should not be “put through the wringer for the sake of political games that the Democrats want to play.”
.@PressSec: “The president wants this process to come to a vote because that’s what’s supposed to happen in every single one of these instances where someone is nominated, they go before, they have a hearing, and then the senators vote on it.” @foxandfriends pic.twitter.com/w5vXOWdzqQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 25, 2018
According to ABC News, Ford said of her much-anticipated testimony, “While I am frightened, please know, my fear will not hold me back from testifying and you will be provided with answers to all of your questions.”
“I ask for fair and respectful treatment,” she added.
In the Fox News interview, Kavanaugh said that President Trump called him yesterday to reiterate his unwavering support. “He’s standing by me,” the judge noted.
“I know my lifelong record and I’m not going to let false accusations drive me out of this process,” Kavanaugh concluded. “I have faith in God and I have faith in the fairness of the American people.”
(H/T: Fox News)