In spite of recent controversial allegations of sexual assault against Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, former President George W. Bush has said that he stands by the judge.
The Supreme Court nominee — chosen by President Donald Trump back in July — has been accused by Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor, of attempting to rape her while the two were teenagers in high school some 35 years ago.
Related: Who Is Christine Blasey Ford, Really? Six Things You Must Know
Ford alleges that she, Kavanaugh, and another friend, Mark Judge, were at a house party in Maryland when the two men pushed her into a bedroom and Kavanaugh began trying to remove her clothes — covering her mouth when she attempted to scream for help.
Kavanaugh, a highly respected judge for more than a decade, vigorously denied those allegations.
Initial reports of the allegation included only the detail that Kavanaugh had been accused of sexual assault, without further information.
At that time, Kavanaugh said that he “categorically and unequivocally” denied the allegation.
Mark Judge made similar comments.
After more details were revealed, including Ford’s name and the fact that she said she believed the event to have occurred in the summer of 1982, Kavanaugh reaffirmed his denial and said that he had not been at any such party that matched her description — much less committed the acts described “during high school or at any other time.”
Ford said she is not sure of the date or place of the event she is alleging.
Now, former President Bush has come forward to repeat his belief that Kavanaugh is “a fine husband, father, and friend.”
Brett Kavanaugh worked for Bush as White House staff secretary and as an attorney before Bush nominated him to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
In a statement to CNN, the former president wrote, “Laura and I have known and respected Brett Kavanaugh for decades, and we stand by our comments the night Judge Kavanaugh was nominated: ‘He is a fine husband, father, and friend — and a man of the highest integrity.’ He will make a superb justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.”
The Judiciary Committee originally had been scheduled to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination this Thursday — but that vote has been delayed now until after a hearing on Monday to address these new allegations.
Related: Biden Applauds Kavanaugh Accuser — Then One Question Makes Him Bolt
Ford herself may appear at the Monday hearing, though that has not been confirmed.
If Kavanaugh is approved by the committee, his confirmation will be voted on by the full Senate.
Senate Republicans have expressed a desire to have Kavanaugh confirmed before the first week of October, which is when the Supreme Court session begins.
It’s currently unknown whether that date will or can be met, given the delays and the accusations.
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