A crack in the Kavanaugh dam
Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director for the Judicial Crisis Network, which is running ads calling Christine Blasey Ford part of a Democratic conspiracy to derail the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, was just asked on MSNBC if he should be confirmed after new allegations emerged today.
“Think we have to look into this further, but I think, I think from what we know so far, we don't have corroboration yet, and so I think if the Senate votes on this soon, I think they would have to go on the -- what they know so far. But I know the Senate Judiciary Committee is going to look into this before they would move forward to a vote,” she said.
To translate that: the main organization backing Kavanaugh is now backing off. They may do another u-turn and get back in line, but this could also be the beginning of a rout.
In my last email, I urged folks not to listen to Michael Avenatti until he came forward with some evidence to back up his explosive claims. Well, he now has evidence, so let’s listen: Julie Swetnick, who holds multiple government security clearances (meaning her career would be ruined if she perjured herself) has signed a sworn affidavit saying that Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge were present when she was drugged and raped in the early 1980s, when the duo were classmates at Georgetown Preparatory School in suburban Maryland. She also witnessed inappropriate behavior on Kavanaugh’s part multiple times, said Swetnick.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for Kavanaugh to withdraw, but so far Republicans are insisting, for some reason, that tomorrow’s hearing will go forward.
If Republicans do plow forward, as Mitch McConnell has promised, this isn’t over: Rep. Hank Johnson, who will become chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee of Courts if Democrats take over the House (where Kavanaugh impeachment proceedings would begin), tells me he will use that authority to fully investigate Kavanaugh.