President Trump on Monday defended his latest nominee to the Supreme Court as “somebody very special” but said “we want to go through a full process … and hear everybody out” regarding the sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh. Said Trump, “if it takes a little delay, it’ll take a little delay. I’m sure it will work out very well.” Trump has not spoken to Kavanaugh about the allegation but called a question about whether the judge has offered to withdraw from consideration “ridiculous.” On Monday, Kavanaugh responded to an allegation by Christine Blasey Ford that he sexually assaulted her when they were both in high school in Maryland in the 1980s. Kavanaugh denied the woman’s allegation, saying in the statement released by the White House that “this is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes—to her or to anyone.” He continued, “I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.” Some senators meanwhile called for both Kavanaugh and Ford to address the matter before lawmakers.
