Donald Trump‘s embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sunk to a new level of desperation on Monday during an interview on Fox News.
His new argument against claims that he sexually assaulted women in high school and college is that he couldn’t have possibly have done that because he was a virgin.
“I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone,” Kavanaugh told Martha MacCallum during the interview.
Instead of making a substantive argument to back that up, he pivoted to something that has nothing to do with the allegations put forward by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
“I did not have sexual intercourse or anything close to sexual intercourse in high school or for many years thereafter,” Kavanaugh said. “The girls from the schools I went to, and I, were friends.”
The Fox host, of course, quickly took the bait and went down that rabbit hole with the judge, asking a follow-up question about Kavanaugh‘s virginity.
“Through all these years that were in question, you were a virgin?” MacCallum asked.
Kavanaugh responded by saying, “That’s correct,” and saying it wasn’t until “many years after college” that he had sex.
Video:
Brett Kavanaugh: “We’re talking about allegations of sexual assault. I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone. I did not have sexual intercourse or anything close to sexual intercourse in high school or for many years thereafter.” pic.twitter.com/KNkwv4zHGN
— Ryan Saavedra 🇺🇸 (@RealSaavedra) September 24, 2018
None of the allegations have to do with intercourse
Here’s the problem with Judge Kavanaugh‘s new defense: It has nothing to do with the allegations being made by a growing number of women.
According to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, “Kavanaugh physically pushed me into a bedroom as I was headed for a bathroom up a short stair well from the living room. They locked the door and played loud music precluding any successful attempt to yell for help. … Kavanaugh was on top of me while laughing with REDACTED, who periodically jumped onto Kavanaugh. They both laughed as Kavanaugh tried to disrobe me in their highly inebriated state. With Kavanaugh’s hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me.”
The more recent allegation from Deborah Ramirez is that “Kavanaugh had exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party, thrust his penis in her face, and caused her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away.”
Kavanaugh‘s emphasis on his sexual status in high school and college is meaningless. It’s a bait and switch meant to fool people into thinking his virginity has something to do with these disturbing and credible allegations.
It doesn’t, and the American people – as well as those running this chaotic Supreme Court confirmation process – shouldn’t be fooled into thinking it does.
Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
