Hatch accuses Dems of ‘smear campaign’ against Kavanaugh

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) lambasted Democrats on Monday, saying they are mounting a “smear campaign” against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who is facing a second sexual misconduct allegation. 

Hatch said Democrats are using a “thinly sourced article,” referring to a New Yorker story published Sunday, “as an excuse to call for further delays.”

{mosads}“No innuendo has been too low, no insinuation too dirty. Everything is an excuse for delay, no matter how unsubstantiated,” said Hatch, a former chairman and current member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Hatch is the latest GOP senator to defend Kavanaugh — and blast Democrats — after The New Yorker reported that Senate Democrats are investigating a sexual misconduct allegation dating back to Kavanaugh’s freshman year at Yale.

Deborah Ramirez says Kavanaugh exposed himself in front of her during a gathering at Yale. She told The New Yorker that Kavanaugh thrust his exposed penis in her face, causing her to touch it without her consent when she pushed him away.

Kavanaugh was already facing a sexual assault allegation from Christine Blasey Ford, who says that at a high school party Kavanaugh held her down and tried to remove her clothes. Kavanaugh has denied both of the allegations. 

Hatch said that while every accuser “deserves to be heard,” Democrats are “engaged in a coordinated effort” to stop Kavanaugh. 

“Senate Democrats are demeaning both the Senate and the Supreme Court through their partisan games and transparent attempts at character assassination. We should hear from Dr. Ford on Thursday as planned. Then we should vote,” he added.