When Christine Blasey Ford, the psychology professor who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually abusing her in high school, came forward with her accusation, she reportedly mentioned two other witnesses at the party where Kavanaugh allegedly abused her. One of them has spoken out, denying any knowledge of the party or the assault.
“I understand that I have been identified by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as the person she remembers as ‘P.J.’ who supposedly was present at the party she described in her statements to the Washington Post,” Patrick J. Smyth said in a letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
“I am issuing this statement today to make it clear to all involved that I have no knowledge of the party in question; nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh,” Smyth declared.
“Personally speaking, I have known Brett Kavanaugh since high school and I know him to be a person of great integrity, a great friend, and I have never witnessed any improper conduct by Brett Kavanaugh towards women,” Smyth added. “To safeguard my own privacy and anonymity, I respectfully request that the Committee accept this statement in response to any inquiry the Committee may have.”
Christine Blasey Ford alleged that Kavanaugh abused her at a party “somewhere in suburban Maryland” in 1982. She claimed that Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge locked her in a room and Judge watched as Kavanaugh attempted to rape her. The Washington Post did not report the names of the other two witnesses Ford claimed would corroborate the story.
Both Kavanaugh and Judge have categorically denied the allegations.
Apparently, the Post reporter who worked with Ford on the story contacted Smyth, identifying him as the “P.J.” witness who could corroborate her story.
Ed Morrissey noted over at HotAir that if the reporter did indeed reach out to Smyth for this reason and Smyth is the “P.J.” cited by Ford, “this is a rather significant hit to the credibility of the accusation. That would make three named people in Ford’s story who deny it ever happened, and this one would be the first of those not actually accused of wrongdoing.”
Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director at the pro-Kavanaugh Judicial Crisis Network, agreed that Smyth’s response poked serious holes in Ford’s allegations.
200 Women Testify to Kavanaugh’s History of ‘Treating Women With Respect,’ Going Back to High School
“P.J. Smyth’s letter provides further confirmation that this story does not add up,” Severino said in a statement. “It is clear that Judge Kavanaugh had nothing to do with this. The experience Dr. Ford describes sounds awful, but it is evident that Judge Kavanaugh was not involved.”
Smyth indeed attended Georgetown Prep — an all-boys school in North Bethesda, Md. — along with Kavanaugh. Both men graduated in 1983.
Smyth signed a letter this summer, before Ford’s allegations became public, testifying that Kavanaugh “is singularly qualified to be an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.”
About 200 women signed similar statements about Kavanaugh’s character, as did two women who dated him and knew him in high school. One former girlfriend referred to Kavanaugh as a “perfect gentleman.”
Ford’s attorneys had asked that the Kavanaugh accuser be allowed to testify before the Senate. Senate Republicans agreed, scheduling a hearing for next Monday. On Tuesday, Ford asked for them to delay the hearing until the FBI could investigate her claims, which have passed the statute of limitations.
On Wednesday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) accused Republicans of “bullying” Ford into testifying on Monday, the very thing she had originally requested. This entire allegation seems more and more like a desperate ploy from Democrats attempting to stave off the inevitable confirmation of a qualified Supreme Court nominee. Whoever the fourth alleged witness is, if he or she also denies the account, Ford’s claims will seem even less credible.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member