No sooner had the New York Times published an accusation of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh were leading 2020 Democratic candidates using the news to call for the youngest justice’s ouster.
These candidates are now in an awkward position as the New York Times has since walked back its latest anti-Kavanaugh allegation.
Over the weekend, Sen. Warren (D-Mass.), Beto O’Rourke, Rep. Castro (D-Texas), Sen. Booker (D-N.J.), Tom Steyer, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bill De Blasio, Sen. Harris (D-Calif.), and Sen. Kobuchar (D-Minn.) all used the New York Times report to demand Kavanaugh’s impeachment.
The Times’ original report said Kavanaugh was once reportedly at a Yale University party with his pants down, when a friend “pushed his penis into the hand of a female student.” The report came from Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly who are the co-authors of the forthcoming book, “The Education of of Brett Kavanaugh: An Investigation.”
The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway received an advance copy of the reporters Kavanaugh book and noted that their Times article left out a key piece of information: The “victim” denies having any memory of the incident. The latest allegation instead comes from Max Stier, a progressive lawyer who helped Bill Clinton navigate his impeachment crisis and also served as an intermediary for The New Yorker’s widely-criticized Kavanaugh coverage.
On Saturday, The New York Times issued an update on its article, noting the “victim” has no recollection of the apparent incident. But Democrats’ leading 2020 candidates had already spoken.
Here’s Sen. Booker, who infamously called himself “Spartacus” during Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, calling for the justice’s impeachment:
Tom Steyer says the Times report demands further investigation:
Julian Castro is also demanding Kavanaugh’s impeachment:
So too is Bernie Sanders:
And Beto O’Rourke:
And Sen. Warren, who has always opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination:
Bill De Blasio says the new allegation says he should have never been approved:
Sen. Harris says Kavanaugh must be impeached:
Sen. Klobuchar does too:
Will any of these candidates retract their calls for impeachment after the Times’ correction?
Should any do so, this report will be updated accordingly.