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What does this tell you about the politics of it all..
Quote:Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said Sunday that there's "not a chance" he would have called for an FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh if he were running for reelection. "Not a chance," Flake said when asked on CBS's "60 Minutes" if he would have asked for the investigation if he were up for reelection in the November midterms. "There’s no value to reaching across the aisle," Flake said. "There’s no currency for that anymore. There’s no incentive."
Flake: If I were running for reelection ‘not a chance’ I’d call for Kavanaugh investigation | TheHill
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More lies?
Quote:But serious concerns about whether Kavanaugh lied under oath have also been raised – publicly and privately – on a topic that has received far less attention in the national spotlight: his insistence that he was shocked when he discovered last year that Kozinski, his mentor and friend, sexually harassed more than a dozen clerks in decades on the bench. In sworn testimony, Kavanaugh said the revelation – which became public following an exposé in the Washington Post last year that eventually led to Kozinski’s resignation as chief judge of the ninth circuit court of appeals – had been a shocking “gut punch” and deeply disappointing.
People who knew Kozinski have privately – and in some cases, publicly – challenged that statement, saying Kozinski’s abusive behaviour, which ranged from kissing clerks to showing them pornography at work to making sexist remarks, was known throughout the judiciary. There were also public signs of his inappropriate use of pornography at work. Individuals who knew Kozinski and spoke to the Guardian on the condition that their names be withheld, for fear of retribution, described Kavanaugh’s testimony as “ridiculous” and “unbelievable”.
“People were warned about Kozinski, that he was sexually gross,” said one former law clerk who served for a judge who worked in close proximity to Kozinski. “But they traded in their life for a year so that they could get a Kennedy clerkship, and then you are set for life.” He was referring to Kozinski’s role as a “feeder” judge who vetted clerks for supreme court justice Anthony Kennedy. “Eventually, Kavanaugh had his own authority, also as a judge, to do something, and he didn’t.”
Kavanaugh clerk hire casts light on link to judge forced to quit in #MeToo era | US news | The Guardian
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Looks like there is a positive development:
Quote:The White House has reportedly permitted the FBI to interview anyone deemed appropriate in its investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The New York Times reported on Monday that the White House gave authorization to expand the investigation from an initial limited list of witnesses, provided that the review is completed by the end of the week.
White House authorizes FBI to expand Kavanaugh investigation: report | TheHill
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Hardly surprising..
Quote:Before Flake’s surprise move, it was clear from the Senate hearing on Thursday that Flake’s Republican colleagues weren’t very interested in finding out the facts behind Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school gathering. Two other women — Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick — came forward after Ford with separate stories accusing Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct and assault. Kavanaugh has denied all the allegations against him. We reviewed every single question senators asked during last Thursday’s hearing, when the Senate Judiciary Committee questioned both Ford and Kavanaugh. The hearing was supposed to be an opportunity for the senators to learn more on the accusations against Kavanaugh.
But our analysis shows that Republican senators weren’t particularly interested in asking Kavanaugh about the accusations or potentially related matters, including his drinking and his attitude toward women. In addition, they weren’t interested in learning about more about the allegations themselves — beyond Kavanaugh’s denials. Rather, their primary line of questioning was about Democrats and the process that led to the hearing, which Republicans uniformly denounced. They tried to build up a narrative that the accusations against Kavanaugh were a last-minute effort to sabotage him. Below is every single question asked by Democrats, Republicans, and the prosecutor Republicans gave time to, Rachel Mitchell, which we’ve sorted by broad categories.
Chart: Senate Republicans lack interest in the facts of the Kavanaugh allegations - Vox
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Quote:A mutual friend of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Deborah Ramirez, one of his sexual misconduct accusers, has asked the FBI to investigate text messages that Kavanaugh and his allies sent to friends before her story was made public. Kerry Berchem, who was at Yale when Kavanaugh is accused of exposing himself to Ramirez, emailed FBI agent J.C. McDonough asking the agency to review those messages as part of its reopened background investigation of Kavanaugh, NBC News reported Monday. NBC reported that text messages between Berchem and Karen Yarasavage, a friend of Kavanaugh, suggest the high court nominee was discussing Ramirez's accusations with former classmates before the publication of a New Yorker piece about the allegations. Yarasavage reportedly said in one message that Kavanaugh tried getting her to publicly defend him. Berchem told NBC News in a statement that she hasn't drawn conclusions about the messages but believes "they merit investigation by the FBI and the Senate."
Ex-Kavanaugh classmate wants FBI to examine texts related to Ramirez allegations: report | TheHill
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Quote:During his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was asked about his familiarity with the word “boof,” a slang term that many have defined to mean anal sex (and others to be a kayaking technique) — and declared that it was a reference to farting. “I don’t know if it’s ‘buffed’ or ‘boofed,’ how do you pronounce that?” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) asked Kavanaugh during the hearing, intended to address sexual assault allegations brought against Kavanaugh, which Kavanaugh has denied. “That refers to flatulence,” Kavanaugh responded. “We were 16.”
Kavanaugh was also asked about the meaning of the phrase “Devil’s Triangle” — which many believe refers to sex between two men and one woman, but which Kavanaugh said was a drinking game akin to Quarters. The reason that “boof” and “Devil’s Triangle” were cited during the hearing is that their meanings may help paint a portrait of what Kavanaugh was like during his teenage years — a point of contention in the aftermath of three women coming forward against him to accuse him of sexual assault and misconduct..
Brett Kavanaugh, “Devil’s Triangle,” and “boof,” explained - Vox
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10-03-2018, 01:48 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-03-2018, 02:12 AM by Admin.)
I guess we could have seen this coming..
Quote:President Trump at a rally on Tuesday night mocked testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, one of the women accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. "36 years ago, this happened," Trump said at the rally in Mississippi, referring to the party in 1982 where Ford alleges Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her. Trump then launched into a mocking imitation of Ford as she testified at last week's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, prompting applause and laughter from the audience. "How did you get home?" Trump said. "I don't remember. How'd you get there? I don't remember. Where is the place? I don't remember. How many years ago was it? I don't know." "What neighbourhood was it in?" he continued, as the crowd cheered and clapped. "I don't know. Where's the house?' I don't know. Upstairs, downstairs, where was it?' I don't know, but I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember."
Trump mocks Christine Blasey Ford testimony at Mississippi rally | TheHill
Yea, it's all a big joke, right?
Then he argued jong men are under siege:
Quote:President Trump said Tuesday the controversy surrounding Brett Kavaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court shows it is a “scary time for young men.” "It is a very scary time for young men in America, when you can be guilty of something you may not be guilty of," Trump told reporters on the South Lawn before leaving the White House. Trump said Kavanaugh has been treated unfairly as multiple women have come forward to accuse the federal judge of sexual misconduct. The FBI is investigating the allegations, delaying a Senate confirmation vote.
Trump defends Kavanaugh: ‘Very scary time for young men in America’ | TheHill
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Quote:The letter, reportedly written by current Supreme Court hopeful Brett Kavanaugh in 1983, described himself and his classmates as "loud, obnoxious drunks with prolific pukers among us," The New York Times reported Tuesday.
Kavanaugh in 1983 letter to friends: 'We're loud, obnoxious drunks'
Quote:Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh warned his friends that they might be evicted from the beachfront condo they rented in 1983, and wrote details alluding to the events that were expected to take place there, in a letter obtained by The New York Times. "Our problem down there might be too many people," Kavanaugh wrote in the letter. "We're going to have to decide while we are there who we want and don't want ... If half of Gonzaga/St. Johns starts coming, we might have to give the boot or else we might get it ourselves." "The danger of eviction is great and that would suck because of the money and because this week has big potential. (Interpret as wish)," he added. Kavanaugh in the letter alluded to the possibility of a noise complaint during their stay. "It would probably be a good idea on Sat. the 18th to warn the neighbors that we're loud obnoxious drunks with prolific pukers among us," Kavanaugh added in the postscript, suggesting they could advise neighbors "to go about 30 miles." Kavanaugh also said in the letter, "I think we are unanimous that any girls we can beg to stay there are welcomed with open...." Kavanaugh told the Times on Tuesday through his lawyers, "This is a note I wrote to organize 'Beach Week' in the summer of 1983." He declined to comment further.
Kavanaugh warned of possible condo eviction in 1983 letter | TheHill
He probably had a point. It's not unusual for students to be loud and obnoxious drunks, but it is a bit out of line with the persona he painted in his Senate testimony.
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Was this really an open investigation? Those who set the parameters (the White House) have every reason to keep it limited..
Quote:The FBI has not received clear authority from the White House to interview Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanagh or Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing him of sexual assault, Bloomberg reported Wednesday afternoon. Two sources with knowledge of the matter told the publication that the White House believes that hours-long testimony from Kavanaugh and Ford before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week is sufficient. The legal team for Ford, a college professor in California, told The Hill as recently as Wednesday afternoon that they have yet to hear from the FBI as part of its investigation into her allegations against Kavanaugh.
FBI doesn’t have approval to talk to Ford or Kavanaugh for investigation: report | TheHill
Quote:Several former classmates of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh told CNN that they've had trouble getting in touch with the FBI to share information they believe is relevant for its investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against the judge. The network spoke with several individuals who said they had not heard back from the FBI despite making efforts to reach out to the bureau.
Ex-Kavanaugh classmates say they haven't been able to share info with FBI | TheHill
Quote:Senators are being told that they will get to review a supplemental FBI background investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday, but only one copy is being made available to senators under restricted conditions. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, said that preparations are being made to review the report on Thursday. Republicans are putting strict limits on the viewing.
Senators will view FBI report on Kavanaugh Thursday | TheHill
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10-04-2018, 03:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-04-2018, 03:14 PM by Admin.)
Questions, questions..
Quote:Before casting their vote on the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court, Murkowski, Collins and Flake owe the women of America their answers to the following questions.
- Do you believe that President Trump or Senate Republican leaders ever sought the truth about the allegations of sexual abuse offered by three women who have come forward, knowing the vicious attacks against them that would inevitably follow?
- Do you believe that the Senate Judiciary Committee conducted adequate hearings to seek the truth in good faith about the allegations of abuse, or do you believe the committee pushed through a committee vote to confirm Kavanaugh without a fair and reasonable search for that truth?
- Do you believe that the Trump White House aggressively obstructed and impeded the FBI background check on Kavanaugh and aggressively prevented FBI interviews with key corroborating witnesses suggested by the women? When a significant number of credible witnesses who came forward pleading to be interviewed by the FBI were treated disrespectfully and contemptuously and were refused the opportunity to present the facts and evidence, do you believe this constituted a search for truth?
- Do you believe that Judge Kavanaugh told the truth during his confirmation testimony about his behavior when he was in prep school and college on matters related to the allegations of the women, or do you believe he testified falsely under oath?
- If it is true that Kavanaugh was not interviewed during the FBI background check, why do you believe Kavanaugh or the White House prevented him from being questioned?
- When Trump launched his mocking, ridiculing and insulting attack against Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, do you understand why this attack did so much damage to women across America making the hard decision of whether to come forward or remain silent after they have been assaulted?
- Today, there are women across America who are making the agonizing decision about whether to come forward with their stories of being sexually assaulted. How do you believe they will feel if the president, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate show the callous disregard of their rights by not conducting a fair and full investigation of their claims?
- Do you believe FBI Director Christopher Wray should be called to testify about whether or not the FBI background check on Kavanaugh was obstructed by White House interference with the FBI? Why don’t you contact the FBI director privately and ask him this question before you cast your votes? There are public reports that Wray is keeping contemporaneous notes about White House limits imposed against the FBI background check. If this is true, he should disclose any interference before the Senate votes, not after the vote.
- Do you believe the inspector general of the Justice Department should be asked to investigate the possibility of White House obstruction of the FBI background check of Kavanaugh? If not, why?
- Do you believe that Judge Kavanaugh, in his scorched-earth testimony before the Judiciary Committee demonstrated even a minimal sense of judicial temperament?
- Do you understand why a long list of potential Supreme Court litigants will conclude they can never get a fair hearing before Justice Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court?
- Do you believe Judge Kavanaugh, if confirmed, should recuse himself from any case involving any party he attacked during his confirmation process?
- Do you fully understand why many of the most vulnerable women America will find their lives profoundly affected and how, 100 years from now, the final verdict will be rendered by the high court of history, based on how you answer these questions and how you cast your vote?
Murkowski, Collins and Flake: Answer these Kavanaugh questions | TheHill
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