WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump staunchly defended his embattled Supreme Court nominee against a new allegation of sexual misconduct on Monday, calling the accusations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh “totally political”. The president spoke a day after a second allegation emerged against Kavanaugh, a development that further imperiled his nomination to the Supreme Court, forced the White House and Senate Republicans onto the defensive and fuelled calls from Democrats to postpone further action on his confirmation.

Trump, at the United Nations for his second General Asse­mbly meeting, called the allegations unfair and unsubstantiated, made by accusers who come “out of the woodwork”. On Kavanaugh, Trump stressed: “I am with him all the way.”

The second claim against Kavanaugh dates to the 1983-84 academic year, which was his first at Yale University. Deborah Ramirez described the incident after being contacted by The New Yorker magazine.

In a statement provided by the White House, Kavanaugh said the event “did not happen” and that the allegation was “a smear, plain and simple”.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

WITH the country confronting one of its gravest economic crises, it is time for the government and business ...
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...