See below for updates to this story.
On the eve the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing examining the stories of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, two men have reportedly come forward claiming that they, not Judge Kavanaugh, were the ones who had the encounter in question with Ford.
Burgess Everett, a reporter for Politico, broke the news on Twitter. “[Senate Judiciary] Committee staff have a second interview with a man who believes he, not Judge Kavanaugh, had the encounter with Dr. Ford in the summer of 1982 that is the basis of her allegation,” Everett wrote. “He described his recollection of their interaction in some detail.”
https://twitter.com/burgessev/status/1045139770513477632/
“For people asking for more info,” Burgess added in a second tweet, “this is from a long investigation summary from Judiciary Republicans distributed tonight. These interviews happened this week, according to the committee.”
For people asking for more info, this is from A long investigation summary from Judiciary Republicans distributed tonight. These interviews happened this week, according to the committee
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) September 27, 2018
Another Politico reporter added additional information about a second man. Elana Schor wrote on Twitter:
Senate Judiciary Rs release a Kavanaugh investigative summary that includes:
-an anonymous claim of rape fwded by Harris’ office
-two intvs & a written statement from a man “who believes he, not” Kav, assaulted Ford in 1982
-phone intvu w/a 2nd man who believes same as above
https://twitter.com/eschor/status/1045141240205971456
If one of the confessions turn out to be true, the man could be in serious legal jeopardy as there is no statute of limitations for rape in Maryland, where the alleged attack occurred.
Update 1:09 a.m. EST: Daily Mail reporter David Martosko tweeted screenshots from the Senate Judiciary Committee report.
https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/1045141912863338496
In what appears to be a log of the committee’s investigation and proceedings, there appears an entry dated Monday, September 24, that says committee staff had a “first interview” with a man claiming that it was him, not Kavanaugh, who “had the encounter with Dr. Ford.” The man also had submitted a written statement to the committee earlier in the day.
In an entry from Tuesday, Sept. 25, the committee reported that staff had a second interview “with a man who believes he, not Judge Kavanaugh, had the encounter with Dr. Ford in the summer of 1982 that is the basis of her allegation. He described his recollection of their interaction in some detail.”
The next day the entry reads, “Committee staff receives a more in-depth written statement from the man interviewed twice previously” who claims to have had the encounter with Ford. The committee staff also “spoke via phone with another man who believes he, not Judge Kavanaugh, had the encounter with Dr. Ford in 1982 that is the basis of her allegation.” The man “explained his recollection of the details of the encounter.”
Martosko added:
https://twitter.com/dmartosko/status/1045152582958817280
And of course, the left is having a collective nervous breakdown about the release of this news just hours before the hearing is set to begin.
And, naturally, the committee chose to disclose all of this at 10 PM-ish on the night before she testifies. https://t.co/8ZQChefM3M
— Matt Ford (@fordm) September 27, 2018
Which is, of course, exactly what Feinstein and co. did after Kavanaugh had testified before the committee — just as the Senate was preparing to vote on his nomination. But it’s different when they do it because shut up, as my colleague Stephen Green would say.
It’s quite possible that the two men are either mentally disturbed or seeking attention—or both. But their “confessions” highlight the uncertainty that accompanies claims that cannot be substantiated with evidence, which makes them all — including those of Kavanaugh’s accusers — highly suspect.
This is a developing story. PJM will bring you more information as it becomes available.
Ed. Note: This article has been updated to include information about a second man who has reportedly come forward.
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