Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) last week made light of the sexual assault allegation against Brett Kavanaugh that has since put the Supreme Court nominee’s confirmation in jeopardy, according to an audio recording obtained by Talking Points Memo.
“This guy who’s going to be our Supreme Court justice — and he better be our Supreme Court judge — he’s a perfect candidate,” Rohrabacher said in the recording released Thursday. “And what do they say? ‘Well, in high school you did this.’ High school? Give me a break.”
{mosads}The recording appears to be from a campaign event held the day before Christine Blasey Ford went public with her accusation, according to the Los Angeles Times.
At the event, Rohrabacher, who’s seeking reelection in November, warned young supporters that advancements in technology have made it possible to judge “every phone call you make, every deal you make, every time you click something on … your home computer.”
Rohrabacher, a staunch supporter of President Trump, referenced George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel “1984” when he began to discuss the allegation.
“George Orwell, he was so incredibly insightful and could see what’s going to happen,” Rohrabacher said. “But that’s the challenge you’re going to have. At least I didn’t have to worry about that.”
Talking Points Memo and the Los Angeles Times said Rohrabacher’s office did not respond to requests for comment. The Hill also reached out for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Ford went public with her allegation in an interview with The Washington Post that was published on Sunday. She claimed she was sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh while they were at a high school party in the 1980s.
Kavanaugh has denied the allegation.
Trump has also defended Kavanaugh, saying on Friday that Kavanaugh was a “fine man” who is “under assault” by Democrats who he claims are trying to use the sexual assault allegation to keep him off the Supreme Court.
GOP lawmakers have pushed this week for Ford to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Monday to review her allegations.
Ford, through her lawyer, has said she is willing to testify next week under “terms that are fair and which ensure her safety.”