Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee has said there is no corroboration over claims he sexually assaulted a woman at a party during high school.
Brett Kavanaugh and his wife Ashley took the unusual step of being interviewed by Fox News to continue to deny allegations that he assaulted Christine Blasey Ford and exposed himself to Deborah Ramirez.
He said he “always treated women with respect” – even telling the Trump-friendly Fox News Channel that he had been a virgin for “many years” after high school.
Mr Kavanaugh said: “I did not have sexual intercourse or anything close to sexual intercourse in high school or for many years thereafter. And the girls from the schools I went to and I were friends.”
Answering allegations that he may have had too much to drink on several occasions during his college years, he said: “I think all of us have probably done things we look back on in high school and regret or cringe a bit. But that’s not what we’re talking about.
“We’re talking about an allegation of sexual assault. I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone.”
Although Dr Ford does not remember the time, date or location of the party she claims she was assaulted at, Mr Kavanaugh says he was not at the party she had described.
He also denies exposing himself to Ms Ramirez during a party – amid claims he thrust his genitals in her face and caused her to touch them without her consent when she pushed him away.
Mr Kavanaugh said: “If such a thing had happened, it would have been the talk of campus.”
Mr Kavanaugh said Dr Ford’s friend does not remember being at a party with him, nor has anyone corroborated the accuser’s story.
Dr Ford said she is absolutely certain Mr Kavanaugh was her attacker.
Mr Kavanaugh referenced a letter signed by dozens of women he knew in high school which defended the judge, saying “listen to the people who know me best”.
His wife Ashley said the process had been “incredibly difficult” but said the allegations were “not consistent with Brett”.
The pair say they want a “fair process”.
On Monday, protesters staged a national #BelieveSurvivors walkout at their places of work in solidarity with Dr Ford and Ms Ramirez.
After Ms Ramirez’s allegations were published in the New Yorker, Mr Kavanaugh wrote to the judiciary panel saying: “These are smears, pure and simple.”
Mr Kavanaugh called the allegations “grotesque and obvious character assassination” and added that they could dissuade others from entering public service.
He said that he “will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process”, adding: “The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out.”