U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is slated to testify Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the sexual assault allegations set forth by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.
Ford, now 51 years old, claimed roughly two weeks ago that Kavanaugh pinned her down to a bed and groped her during a party the two allegedly attended when they were teenagers. The federal judge, for his part, has denied Ford’s claims and said he has no recollection of such a party or incident.
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According to his prepared remarks, which were released Wednesday afternoon, Kavanaugh will acknowledge the sexual assault Ford alleges very well could have occurred, but he will argue it was not he who carried out the abuse.
What will he say?
“I categorically and unequivocally deny the allegation against me by Dr. Ford. I never had any sexual or physical encounter of any kind with Dr. Ford,” he will say. “I am not questioning that Dr. Ford may have been sexually assaulted by some person in some place at some time. But I have never done that to her or to anyone. I am innocent of this charge.”
While President Donald Trump’s high court pick will say he spent most of his days when the alleged encounter occurred, supposedly in the summer of 1982, studying or participating in church events or sports activities, Kavanaugh is expected to admit he made mistakes as a teenager.
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“I was not perfect in those days, just as I am not perfect today. I drank beer with my friends, usually on weekends. Sometimes I had too many,” he will say. “In retrospect, I said and did things in high school that make me cringe now.”
Kavanaugh is also expected to comment on sexual assault in general, which he will describe as “horrific,” “morally wrong,” “illegal” and “contrary to my religious faith.” Such behavior, he will say, “contradicts the core promise of this nation that all people are created equal and entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.”
“Allegations of sexual assault must be taken seriously,” his statement reads. “Those who make allegations deserve to be heard. The subject of allegations also deserves to be heard. Due process is a foundation of the American rule of law.”