Nine more women accuse prominent appeals court judge of sexual misconduct

Nine more women have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against a prominent appeals court judge.

Alex Kozinski, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, has now been accused by at least 15 women of sexual misconduct, harassment or assault.

In a new Washington Post report, nine women alleged that Kozinski “subjected them to sexual comments or other conduct.” Four of the women said that Kozinski touched them inappropriately or kissed them without consent.

Kozinski said in a statement that many of the claims are “simply not true.”

“Many of the things that are being said about me are simply not true, but I deeply regret that my unusual sense of humor caused offense or made anyone uncomfortable,” he said through his attorney. “I have always treated my male and female law clerks the same.”

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One woman, a former U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge, told the Post that Kozinski groped her in a car after she refused to have sex with him.

Kozinski was accused of misconduct by six women earlier this month in a Washington Post report, one alleging that he showed her pornography in his office and another saying that he told her she should work out naked.

Kozinski, who was appointed by former President Reagan in 1985, pushed back on the first set of allegations in a statement to the newspaper.

“I treat all of my employees as family and work very closely with most of them,” he said. “I would never intentionally do anything to offend anyone and it is regrettable that a handful have been offended by something I may have said or done.”