Here's the Ronan Farrow / Jane Mayer article about a new Kavanaugh accusation

[oberliner]

As Senate Republicans press for a swift vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Senate Democrats are investigating a new allegation of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh. The claim dates to the 1983-84 academic school year, when Kavanaugh was a freshman at Yale University. The offices of at least four Democratic senators have received information about the allegation, and at least two have begun investigating it. Senior Republican staffers also learned of the allegation last week and, in conversations with The New Yorker, expressed concern about its potential impact on Kavanaugh’s nomination. Soon after, Senate Republicans issued renewed calls to accelerate the timing of a committee vote. The Democratic Senate offices reviewing the allegations believe that they merit further investigation. “This is another serious, credible, and disturbing allegation against Brett Kavanagh. It should be fully investigated,” Senator Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, said. An aide in one of the other Senate offices added, “These allegations seem credible, and we’re taking them very seriously. If established, they’re clearly disqualifying.”

The woman at the center of the story, Deborah Ramirez, who is fifty-three, attended Yale with Kavanaugh, where she studied sociology and psychology. Later, she spent years working for an organization that supports victims of domestic violence. The New Yorker contacted Ramirez after learning of her possible involvement in an incident involving Kavanaugh. The allegation was also 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. In her initial conversations with The New Yorker, she was reluctant to characterize Kavanaugh’s role in the alleged incident with certainty. After six days of carefully assessing her memories and consulting with her attorney, Ramirez said that she felt confident enough of her recollections to say that she remembers Kavanaugh had exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party, thrust his penis in her face, and caused her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away. Ramirez is now calling for the F.B.I. to investigate Kavanaugh’s role in the incident. “I would think an F.B.I. investigation would be warranted,” she said.


https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/senate-democrats-investigate-a-new-allegation-of-sexual-misconduct-from-the-supreme-court-nominee-brett-kavanaughs-college-years-deborah-ramirez

[procon]

1. There's always a second victim... and a third... and a forth... nt

[NewJeffCT]

2. Avenatti has a 3rd

now

Link to tweet

[procon]

3. Now would be the time for all of Kavanaugh's silent victims to step out of the dark

and stand in solidarity with the plurality of American women who share this crushing sisterhood.

[oberliner]

6. That tweet doesn't say that

It says he represents a woman with information - not necessarily another victim.

[NewJeffCT]

9. Yesterday's tweet

said that Dr. Ford was not alone - implying that his client was also assaulted.

Link to tweet

[oberliner]

12. Annoying that he is playing games with this on Twitter

Either reveal the information or don't. This isn't a reality tv show.

[NewJeffCT]

14. Maybe they were finalizing paperwork

and he wanted to give out a teaser?

[Renew Deal]

4. wow

Not sure how they can go on with this anymore

[oberliner]

8. Do you think he will withdraw?

[Renew Deal]

10. I think he's gone if Dr. Ford testifies.

And they know that too.

[smirkymonkey]

5. I knew this man was a pig from the beginning.

I am sure we will find out more.

[oberliner]

7. I wonder if any Republicans will abandon ship

[honest.abe]

13. I would surprised if none didnt..

considering all the dirt that is coming out now.

[lostnfound]

11. He is a pig but I don't think this story is so significant

Not an attempted rape. Just drunk and lewd at age 18.

[smirkymonkey]

15. What?

Drunk and lewd? Attempted rape? What are you talking about? This is very significant.

[lostnfound]

16. drinking parties at Ivy colleges in the 80s -- echoes of the 60s

Some people drank to excess almost for the purpose of an excuse for lewd behavior.
What he did at that drinking game would have been seen by most back then as embarrassing or humiliating to HIM but not exactly an assault on her, because it was in public at a drinking game and he was “toasted”. Dropping the pants would have been something people would laugh about and the contact would have yielded “Ewww!” when they told the story, but there would not have been an “OMG he touched her without consent!” reaction.
People would have talked about what a foolish drunk he was, considered it creepy / sloppy / undignified, but not criminal.

The stories of the 60s carried over into the culture of the early 80s. You heard stories of people going nude swimming in the fountain on campus, or a drunk guy at a party getting naked and walking on the roof naked, or drinking games turning into spin-the-bottle games. (I hate crowds and loud places so fortunately avoided them.)

But what he did to Blasey Ford was far more serious, as are the things that Avenatti is dropping hints about regarding drugging and gang rape.