Schumer Demands McConnell Apologize To Kavanaugh Accuser For ‘Smear’ Remark
Senator Chuck Schumer Image by Getty Images
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday morning that Republican Mitch McConnell “owes an apology” to the accuser of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh for labeling her sex abuse allegations a “smear job.”
Schumer called out Republicans they pushed back against the allegations by Christine Blasey Ford about sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh when he attended an elite prep school.
A second woman accused Kavanaugh of misconduct during his time at Yale University.
“These women came forward with principal and courage, knowing they would face abuse and lasting personal pain for doing so. But realizing they had an obligation to the country they did so anyway,” Schumer said on the Senate floor the morning after Kavanaugh gave an exclusive interview to Fox News where he denied he ever acted inappropriately toward women.
“Whatever you think of the veracity of the allegations it is shameful, shameful to doubt women’s sincerity — to say they’re making it up.”
The Kentucky Republican had labeled the allegations a “smear job” during a heated Senate floor speech on Monday.
“Senate Democrats and their allies are trying to destroy a man’s personal and professional life on the basis of decades-old allegations that are unsubstantiated and uncorroborated,” McConnell reportedly said.
McConnell spoke after a second woman, Deborah Ramirez, accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her during a Yale dorm room party, though she added that she had “significant gaps in her memory” about the traumatizing incident.
Contact Ben Fractenberg at fractenberg@forward.com or on Twitter, @fractenberg
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