ADVERTISEMENT

Kavanaugh Isn’t Like Harvey Weinstein, White House Tells Supporters

Kavanaugh Isn’t Like Harvey Weinstein, White House Tells Supporters

(Bloomberg) -- The White House is urging GOP donors and supporters to speak out in favor of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, with adviser Kellyanne Conway saying during a conference call that the nominee didn’t use his position to get sexual favors like ex-movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and others who lost their jobs, according to a person on the call.

In addition to Weinstein, Conway also mentioned on the Monday call former CBS Corp. Chairman Les Moonves and former NBC "Today" anchor Matt Lauer.

Conway’s efforts came after the New Yorker magazine reported that Senate Democrats are investigating new allegations of sexual misconduct that allegedly took place during Kavanaugh’s college years at Yale University. Kavanaugh denied the allegation, and the White House issued a statement saying it stands firmly behind his nomination.

The Republican National Committee is encouraging supporters to respond to the allegations by hammering Keith Ellison, the Democratic candidate for attorney general in Minnesota who has been accused of abuse against a former girlfriend, the person said.

Separately, Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for representing adult film star Stephanie Clifford, who says she had an affair with Donald Trump before he was elected president, said on Twitter that he represents a woman “with credible information regarding Judge Kavanaugh.” Avenatti, who has said he’s considering running for president as a Democrat, said on Twitter his client is not Ramirez.

Kavanaugh’s nomination was already in a perilous state ahead of a hearing planned for Thursday on an allegation by Christine Blasey Ford that he sexually assaulted her at a high school party three decades ago. Kavanaugh, who has denied that claim, is scheduled to testify, as is Ford. He has denied being at such a party, according to GOP Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, a strong Kavanaugh backer.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sahil Kapur in Washington at skapur39@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net, Justin Blum, Laurie Asséo

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.