Democrats Seek Kavanaugh’s Impeachment Following New Reporting

Democrats are now seeking impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was confirmed in 2018 despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. On Sunday, Democrats called for a new investigation following a recent New York Times piece by journalists Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly, who have been examining last year’s accusations against Kavanaugh while doing research for their forthcoming book, The Education of Brett Kavanaugh: An Investigation. 

In addition to Christine Blasey Ford, who testified that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her during high school, Deborah Ramirez, a Yale classmate of Kavanaugh’s, also accused Kavanaugh in 2018 of sexual assault. Ramirez alleged that while both were students at Yale, Kavanaugh exposed himself to her, and forced her to touch his penis as she tried to avoid him.

Ramirez did not testify in 2018, and even though she and her attorneys presented the FBI with 25 witnesses, the Justice Department did not follow up with any of them.

In 2018, Kavanaugh denied Ramirez’ allegation, saying that if it had taken place, it would have been the talk of the campus. Evidently, though, it was. 

Though Kavanaugh’s supporters claimed Ramirez’ accusation was uncorroborated, the New York Times reported: 

“At least seven people, including Ms. Ramirez’s mother, heard about the Yale incident long before Mr. Kavanaugh was a federal judge. Two of those people were classmates who learned of it just days after the party occurred, suggesting that it was discussed among students at the time.”

During their investigation, the two Times journalists detailed additional corroborations of Ramirez’ allegations, as well as turning up a witness with an additional allegation that is nearly identical to that of Ramirez.

According to the Times journalists, “A classmate (of Kavanaugh, Ramirez, and the newly revealed additional victim), Max Stier, saw Mr. Kavanaugh with his pants down at a different drunken dorm party, where friends pushed his penis into the hand of a female student. Mr. Stier, who runs a nonprofit organization in Washington, notified senators and the F.B.I. about this account, but the F.B.I. did not investigate and Mr. Stier has declined to discuss it publicly.” 

It should be noted that friends of this alleged victim say she does not remember the incident. Stier and others concede that that is often the case with events that take place when one is drunk. 

The Times journalists continue, “(We corroborated the story with two officials who have communicated with Mr. Stier.)”

Donald Trump continues to support Kavanaugh while blasting those calling for a new investigation: “Now the Radical Left Democrats and their Partner, the LameStream Media, are after Brett Kavanaugh again, talking loudly of their favorite word, impeachment,” Trump tweeted. “He is an innocent man who has been treated HORRIBLY. Such lies about him. They want to scare him into turning Liberal!”

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) tweeted, “Last year the Kavanaugh nomination was rammed through the Senate without a thorough examination of the allegations against him. Confirmation is not exoneration, and these newest revelations are disturbing. Like the man who appointed him, Kavanaugh should be impeached.”

Beto O’Rourke tweeted, “Yesterday, we learned of another accusation against Brett Kavanaugh—one we didn’t find out about before he was confirmed because the Senate forced the F.B.I. to rush its investigation to save his nomination. We know he lied under oath. He should be impeached.”

Multiple other Democrats have tweeted their support of impeachment for Kavanaugh. Though they must surely realize that the chances of impeaching Kavanaugh are slim to none, perhaps going on record in support of impeachment is enough of a message.

NYT reveals new Kavanaugh assault allegation | Newsy [09-15-2019]

Trump rips new claim against Kavanaugh | Fox News [2019-09-15]

Trump Impeachment: Support Slowly Grows

Should Donald Trump be impeached? The most recent Harvard/CAPS/Harris Poll survey indicates that a majority of American voters say “no.” Only 37 percent of those who participated in this poll support impeachment proceedings against Trump. Sixty percent of Democratic voters, however, say “yes” to impeachment.

According to another poll, the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll, 39 percent of Americans say that the current investigations of Trump should stop, and no further action should be taken. A total of 52 percent of Americans who participated in this poll support some sort of action against Trump: 22 percent (36 percent of Democrats) support impeachment proceedings; 25 percent support continuing the investigation of wrongdoing of Trump; and 5 percent support a public reprimand (censure) of Trump. 

The number of Americans overall who support impeachment proceedings has grown by 16 percent since former special counsel Robert Mueller spoke in May about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. 

In the U.S. House of Representatives, 59 Democrats (and one Republican) currently support impeachment hearings. Though House Democrats supporting impeachment are in the minority, that number is slowly growing.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues, however, to try to hold down the calls for impeachment proceedings. Essentially, she would like for Trump to be prosecuted once he leaves office.

Pelosi has maintained that without support of the Republicans, impeachment proceedings would fail, since an impeachment trial takes place in the currently GOP-run Senate. What’s more, impeachment does not mean removal from office. To remove Trump would require a two-thirds vote of the Senate, which is not likely.

Additionally, say many political experts, should Democrats proceed with impeachment hearings and fail, the likely result will be increased support for “victim” Trump, and another term for him as president. 

Political strategy should not be what determines whether or not to go forward with impeachment proceedings, but continuing with the current investigations in lieu of impeachment proceedings provides the opportunity for a more complete picture of whether Trump is guilty of any wrongdoing, and if so, to what extent. 

“Our investigations are breaking through the Trump administration’s cover-up to get the truth,” said Pelosi. “We want the truth for the American people.”

Impeachment and removal from office might be ideal to many American voters, but if that effort were to fail, all Americans would lose. 

Pelosi wants Trump to be prosecuted once he’s out of office: report |  Fox News [2019-06-08]

Nancy Pelosi Reportedly Tells Democrats She Wants To See Donald Trump ‘In Prison’ | NBC Nightly News [2019-06-06]