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Kavanaugh confirmation process needs a good scrubbing

Ruben Navarrette Jr. on

SAN DIEGO -- How I miss the good ol' days, when the process of confirming a Supreme Court justice was boring and technical -- and didn't make you feel like you needed a shower.

There is a new allegation of sexual misconduct against Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's embattled choice for the Supreme Court. The latest charge -- dating back to when Kavanaugh was a freshman at Yale during the 1983-84 academic year -- involves a college classmate.

While initially reluctant to come forward and tell her story, Deborah Ramirez has now had her identity revealed, because The New Yorker contacted her after learning about the incident. She told the magazine that after six days of sorting through gaps in her memory and consulting with her attorney, she felt confident that Kavanaugh thrust his penis in her face at an alcohol-fueled dormitory party.

Time out. We are right to be suspicious of those who consult with an attorney to help them remember something this politically sensitive. A therapist, fine. But not an attorney. How much of what Ramirez is now charging comes from the recesses of her mind as opposed to whatever political leanings her lawyer might have?

Ramirez wants the FBI to investigate the alleged incident. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford also wants the FBI to look into an alleged incident that supposedly occurred when Ford was 15 and Kavanaugh was a 17-year-old student at Georgetown Preparatory School.

We're going to need a bigger FBI. Besides, let's give the bureau a break. These are cops, not psychics. It won't be easy to get to the bottom of any of this, given that so much time has passed.

 

But right-wingers defending Kavanaugh are also off-base. First of all, they don't have the foggiest idea what happened at these specific parties in the 1980s. They also put too much stock in the fact that Kavanaugh has undergone a half-dozen background checks. So what? Those knowledgeable about such inquiries have told reporters that they're meant to find any kind of current problem, not something from the distant past -- especially if there were no criminal charges.

In a statement, Kavanaugh responded to Ramirez's claim as follows: "This alleged event from 35 years ago did not happen. The people who knew me then know that this did not happen, and have said so. This is a smear, plain and simple."

Both Kavanaugh and Ford are expected to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are investigating Ramirez's allegation, and no doubt hoping that there will be more women coming forward with additional new accusations against Kavanaugh. Republicans are pushing for a vote on the nomination as soon as possible -- perhaps trying to head off additional claims.

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