Senate Democrats are investigating accusations by former Yale University student Deborah Ramirez who claims to have had her own "drunken party" incident with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
According to New Yorker reporter Ronan Farrow, Kavanaugh's freshman year at Yale is now being investigated by at least two Democratic senators. Meanwhile, Republican legislators are pressing for Kavanaugh to be quickly confirmed.
Ramirez was resistant to speak publicly because she was drinking at the same time and she has gaps in her memory similar to the ones Kavanaugh buddy Mark Judge describes. After talking it through and describing the incident, she knows with certainty that Kavanaugh exposed himself during a dormitory party. She said that he "thrust his penis" into her face, and "caused her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away."
Ramirez studied sociology and psychology while at Yale and later worked for an organization that helps survivors of domestic violence.
“I would think an F.B.I. investigation would be warranted,” she told Farrow.
“This is another serious, credible, and disturbing allegation against Brett Kavanagh. It should be fully investigated,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI).
“These allegations seem credible, and we’re taking them very seriously. If established, they’re clearly disqualifying,” said an aide of another Senate office.
Kavanaugh continues to refute all incidents being reported.
“This alleged event from 35 years ago did not happen," he said in a statement. "The people who knew me then know that this did not happen, and have said so. This is a smear, plain and simple. I look forward to testifying on Thursday about the truth, and defending my good name--and the reputation for character and integrity I have spent a lifetime building--against these last-minute allegations.”
Ramirez said that it happened at a party in Lawrence Hall with a small group of students playing a drinking game.
“We were sitting in a circle,” she said. “People would pick who drank.” Ramirez was chosen repeatedly, she said, and quickly became inebriated. At one point, she said, a male student pointed a gag plastic penis in her direction. Later, she said, she was on the floor, foggy and slurring her words as that male student and another stood nearby."
She also identified the other male students watching the game. She said that a third student exposed himself to her.
“I remember a penis being in front of my face,” she said. “I knew that's not what I wanted, even in that state of mind.”
She said she remembers responding "That's not a real penis," which caused the other students to laugh at her confusion and taunt her. She was told she should kiss it.
“I wasn’t going to touch a penis until I was married,” she told Farrow. “I was embarrassed and ashamed and humiliated.”
Kavanaugh was standing next to her laughing, she said she watched him pull up his pants.
“Brett was laughing,” she said. “I can still see his face, and his hips coming forward, like when you pull up your pants.”
She remembered another student shouting down the hall "Brett Kavanaugh just put his penis in Debbie's face!"
She recalled it was his full name and how mortified she felt that people knew.