Just when it seemed that the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court couldn’t become any more intense or controversial, two bombshells dropped over the weekend. On Sunday, September 23, Jane Mayer and Ronan Farrow reported in The New Yorker that Deborah Ramirez—a 53-year-old woman who knew Kavanaugh at Yale University in the 1980s—has emerged with more allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of President Donald Trump’s nominee. Ramirez is alleging that at a Yale dorm party during the 1983/1984 academic year, an intoxicated Kavanaugh exposed his penis and placed it in front of her face. And in addition to Ramirez’ allegations—which Kavanaugh is vehemently denying—attorney Michael Avenatti has said that he is representing a third woman who has “credible information” and is also alleging sexual misconduct on Kavanaugh’s part. On top of all that, investigators in Montgomery County, Maryland have confirmed that there is another possible sexual misconduct allegation against Kavanaugh—possibly bringing the number of accusers to four.
The New Yorker’s article comes after the allegations of Palo Alto University psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford, who alleges that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her at a party back in 1982. Kavanaugh is denying those allegations as well.
Here are five things that Mayer and Farrow are reporting in their September 23 New Yorker article about the alleged incident involving Trump’s controversial High Court nominee
1. The Alleged Incident Occurred During a Drinking Game
Ramirez is alleging that that when she attended a dorm party at Yale’s Lawrence Hall, she participated in a drinking game with Kavanaugh and other students. Ramirez told The New Yorker, “We were sitting in a circle. People would pick who drank.” And Ramirez, chosen multiple times, quickly became intoxicated. At one point, Ramirez said, one of the students pointed a plastic fake penis in her direction—and later, when Ramirez was on the floor, a male student that she alleges was Kavanaugh exposed his penis to her. According to Ramirez, “I remember a penis being in front of my face. I knew that’s not what I wanted, even in that state of mind.” The other students, Ramirez said, were taunting her, and one of them urged her to “kiss it.”
2. Other Yale Students, According to Ramirez, Mentioned Kavanaugh By Name Right After the Alleged Incident
Ramirez, recalling the incident, told The New Yorker, “I was embarrassed and ashamed and humiliated.” Ramirez remembered that one of the students shouted down the hall, “Brett Kavanaugh just put his penis in Debbie’s face.” According to Ramirez, “It was his full name. I don’t think it was just ‘Brett.’ And I remember hearing and being mortified that this was out there.”
3. Ramirez Didn’t Contact The New Yorker—The New Yorker Contacted Her
When Mayer was interviewed on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this morning, she told hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski that Deborah Ramirez didn’t contact The New Yorker—instead, The New Yorker contacted Ramirez after learning of her allegations. In their September 23 article, Mayer and Farrow report, “The allegation was conveyed to Democratic senators by a civil-rights lawyer. For Ramirez, the sudden attention has been unwelcome and prompted difficult choices. She was at first hesitant to speak publicly, partly because her memories contained gaps because she had been drinking at the time of the alleged incident.”
4. Kavanaugh Would Have Been 18 During the Alleged Incident at Yale
According to Christine Blasey Ford and her attorneys, Kavanaugh was 17—still a minor—when he attempted to rape her at a party in 1982, while she was 15 at the time. But by the time of the alleged incident at Yale, according to The New Yorker, the Supreme Court nominee would have been 18 and therefore, a legal adult. Kavanaugh has sworn under oath that as an adult, he has never “committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature.”
5. Ramirez Is Calling for an FBI Investigation of the Alleged Incident
If a Kavanaugh-related FBI investigation occurs, it might involve not only Ford’s allegations of sexual abuse, but also, those being made by Ramirez. After consulting her attorney and agreeing to speak to The New Yorker on the record, Ramirez said, “I would think an FBI investigation would be warranted.”
