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‘Horseplay’: Head of Right Wing Group Pushing Kavanaugh Confirmation Minimizes Sexual Assault Allegations

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Carrie Severino is calling the alleged attack on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford by Brett Kavanaugh “rough horseplay.” Severino is the head of a secretly-funded far right wing activist organization that has spent millions of dollars advocating to get Kavanaugh into the U.S. Supreme Court.

Blasey Ford’s “allegations cover up a whole range of conduct from boorishness to rough horseplay to actual attempted rape, and so, obviously, if you go to rape, that is a really serious allegation,” Severino, the head of the Judicial Crisis Network, told CNN Tuesday.

Severino, whose group has spent a reported $4.5 million already on the campaign to get Kavanaugh confirmed, said Monday’s Senate hearing will be useful “so we can figure out what those allegations are.”

Or, she could just read the letter Dr. Blasey Ford wrote, the transcript of which has been widely published.

“Brett Kavanaugh physically and sexually assaulted me during high school in the early 1980’s,” Dr. Blasey Ford’s letter reads.

Kavanaugh physically pushed me into a bedroom as I was headed for a bathroom up a short stair well from the living room. They locked the door and played loud music precluding any successful attempt to yell for help.

Kavanaugh was on top of me while laughing with REDACTED, who periodically jumped onto Kavanaugh. They both laughed as Kavanaugh tried to disrobe me in their highly inebriated state. With Kavanaugh’s hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me.

Severino, who is an attorney, did not specify which parts she believes to be “rough horseplay.”

Here’s here interview with CNN:

Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo, who posted the video, notes that the Judicial Crisis Network “is the central campaign arm for Republican judicial nominations. The Federalist Society grooms and chooses the nominees. The JCN runs the campaigns, runs political ads in Senators’ states, as necessary.”

The Judicial Crisis Network “has committed to spending at least $10 million by the end of the nomination process,” according to a piece in HuffPost. It adds that JCN “spent a reported $7 million to block the appointment of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court and another $10 million to seat Justice Neil Gorsuch.”

“The organization does not disclose its donors, but tax filings indicate that it is funded by the same group that funds the Federalist Society,” the HuffPost piece adds.

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BELIEVE THE WOMEN

Fox News Legal Analyst Blasts Trump for Bashing Christine Ford – Warns of Damage to Court’s Legitimacy

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October 9, 2018

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Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano on Tuesday slammed President Donald Trump for his highly partisan celebration of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation on Monday night.

Napolitano in particular said that Trump celebrating Kavanaugh’s confirmation by calling Democrats “evil” while also claiming that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony about being sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh was a “hoax.”

“I do not think the best thing that was said was ‘evil’ or ‘hoax,’” he said. “I honestly wish that the president and his people would get past that.”

Napolitano then explained why it is crucial for the Supreme Court to maintain its image as a nonpartisan institution.

“The Supreme Court does not have an army to enforce its rulings,” he said. “Its rulings depend on the intellectual legitimacy in the manner in which the rulings are given… So they really have some work to do to patch up the divisions that exist in the public mind.”

Fox host Steve Doocy then objected and said that the entire Supreme Court confirmation process was political in nature — but Napolitano again put his foot down.

“Once you put that robe on, you must be divorced from the politics that got you there and the people who got you there,” he said. “Your loyalty is to the Constitution and the laws.”

Watch the video below.

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‘Shame! Shame! Shame!’: Thousands March to Supreme Court to Demand Senate #StopKavanaugh

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October 4, 2018

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As Democrats realize the FBI investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Brett Kavanaugh was a sham – designed from start to finish to provide cover, but no actual new information for GOP Senators – thousands are marching to the Supreme Court to protest.

Amid chants of “Whose Court? Our Court!” “Shut it Down,” “Shame! Shame! Shame!” and, “Hey hey, ho ho, Kavanaugh’s got to go!” protestors are taking over key parts of Washington, D.C., just as they did one week ago.

Organizers include the Women’s March and The Center for Popular Democracy, among others.

MoveOn’s Ben Wikler just posted this video:

More shots from the current protests:

 

 

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College Roommate Sets Record Straight: Kavanaugh Lied Under Oath (Video)

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5 years ago

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October 3, 2018

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On Wednesday, CNN’s Anderson Cooper interviewed Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh freshmen year college roommate James Roche.

Roche said that Kavanaugh lied under oath while testifying in front of the Senate Judicial committee about his drinking behavior.

He also noted that the second Kavanaugh accuser Deborah Ramirez should be listened to. Ramirez accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her at a party.

“Why are you doing an interview now?” Cooper asked.

“I have decided and then decided not to participate in this thing multiple times. There’s very little upside for me and there’s a considerable downside for me. But at the end of the day, it feels like there are not enough people who are willing and can credibly say I know this girl,” Roche said.

He added, “She didn’t lie and she wouldn’t lie. I can’t see any reason why she would. So, it felt to me like somebody had to get up and speak for her”

“As Brett’s roommate, I’m in a singular position—I saw him use words in a different way than the way he said under oath. If a person isn’t truthful about these little things, then we ought to think very seriously about whether we should tell Debby that she’s wrong or crazy.”

Watch the video below via CNN.

 

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