Senator Rob Portman, R-OH, continues to support Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the US Supreme Court.
In a written statement, Portman said he believes accusations of sexual assault should be taken “very seriously.”
“I believe my job is to assess the facts that we have before us, and that’s very difficult when no corroboration exists regarding this allegation. Judge Kavanaugh has adamantly denied the allegation. The only three others named by Dr. Ford as being present, including Leland Keyser, who Dr. Ford described as one of her lifelong friends, have no recollection of this event or this party. In fact, Ms. Keyser says she was never at a party with Brett Kavanaugh and, in fact, does not know Brett Kavanaugh.”
Portman reiterated his longtime friendship with Kavanaugh, calling him a man of integrity and humility.
The statement follows a long day of testimony from Christine Blasey Ford who says Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a party decades ago when they were in high school and from Kavanaugh who denies the allegations.
Senator Sherrod Brown, D-OH, in a statement said he was grateful to Ford for coming forward “even in the face of deep personal cost.”
Brown reiterated his position from August that he would not support Kavanaugh’s nomination.
“While I had already decided not to support Judge Kavanaugh based on his history of siding with corporations and Wall Street over workers, Dr. Ford’s testimony today was a powerful moment for our country.”
NPR reports that according to multiple GOP congressional aides, the committee will vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination Friday.
