9/26/2018

GOP/NOMINATION/SENATE/SEX ABUSE/SUPREME COURT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Lindsey Graham complained that Brett Kavanaugh’s accusers are making him out to be ‘Bill Cosby.’ Orrin Hatch blasted ‘phony’ accusations in The New Yorker. And John Cornyn urged the Senate to get on with a confirmation vote before more ‘reckless’ allegations are lodged against the Supreme Court nominee. All three Republicans will be on the dais Thursday [9-17-18] when Ford appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a hearing that will determine whether Kavanaugh lands on the high court. They’ve been Kavanaugh’s most aggressive defenders — and appear most at risk of appearing dismissive of Kavanaugh’s initial accuser, Christine Blasey Ford. The GOP has hired Rachel Mitchell, an experienced Arizona prosecutor, to head off ugly confrontations with Ford. But Graham, Hatch and Cornyn aren’t ruling out asking their own questions on Thursday…Graham, in particular, seems to have gone from being intent on Kavanaugh’s confirmation to being personally offended by one of the latest allegations, brought by a client of Michael Avenatti, that Kavanaugh participated in gang rapes. ‘If you’re a serial rapist, it’s not for a few years,’ Graham said.”

Burgess Everett and John Bresnahan, “GOP anger over Kavanaugh allegations boils ahead of hearing,” Politico, September 26, 2018 7:22 pm