WASHINGTON — Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, facing new allegations of sexual impropriety and growing doubts over his confirmation to the Supreme Court, mounted an aggressive defense of himself on Monday, vowing to fight the “smears” and declaring that he will not withdraw his nomination.
With President Trump publicly backing him, and senior Senate Republicans closing ranks around him, Judge Kavanaugh — joined by his wife, Ashley Estes Kavanaugh — gave an extraordinary interview to Fox News that aired Monday evening. He pledged to “defend my integrity, my lifelong record,” and told his interviewer, Martha MacCallum, that he “did not have sexual intercourse or anything close to sexual intercourse in high school or for many years thereafter.”
He also directly addressed the accusation from Christine Blasey Ford, a research psychologist in Northern California, that he had assaulted her when they were teenagers, more than 30 years ago, at a high school gathering in suburban Washington.
“The truth is I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone, in high school or otherwise,” Judge Kavanaugh said. “I am not questioning and have not questioned that perhaps Dr. Ford at some point in her life was sexually assaulted by someone at some place, but what I know is I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone.”
It is a remarkable step for a Supreme Court nominee to submit to a television interview — or make any public utterance — before a confirmation vote, and Judge Kavanaugh’s team chose a network that features ardent conservative commentators. Fox News is also a favorite venue of the president’s, offering the judge an avenue to make his case to Mr. Trump.
The president said Monday that he is sticking with him. In an interview with Geraldo Rivera for the debut show of “Geraldo in Cleveland” on WTAM radio, Mr. Trump called Judge Kavanaugh a “fantastic, fantastic man, a fantastic talent and intellect.” In brief remarks in New York, he dismissed the allegations about the judge’s conduct decades ago as “totally political.”
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