Mormon women call on senators to postpone Kavanaugh confirmation

A group of Mormon women released a statement on Monday calling for Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court to be postponed until an independent investigation into sexual misconduct allegations lodged against him is completed.

{mosads}Mormon Women for Ethical Government, a group of 6,000 women founded after President Trump’s presidential victory, is targeting their plea to the Mormon members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“We very specifically urge the four members of the committee who share our faith as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–Senator [Orrin] Hatch (Utah), Senator [Mike] Lee (Utah), Senator [Jeff] Flake (Ariz.), and Senator [Mike] Crapo (Idaho)–to ensure that these charges be taken seriously and that every attempt be made to ascertain the truth of the situation,” the statement reads.

“Our mutual faith teaches that any sexual abuse or assault in any context is contemptible and worthy of the most severe condemnation.”

The statement is referring to the allegations two women have made against Kavanaugh.

Christine Blasey Ford accuses him of pinning her down and trying to remove her clothes at a party when they were both in high school in the 1980s.

Deborah Ramirez alleges that he exposed himself to her and thrust his penis into her face during a college party a few years later.

Kavanaugh has denied both claims.

Out of the senators named in the statement, Flake, pushed for Ford — the first woman to come forward — to publicly testify about her claims.

“When Dr. Ford came forward, I said that her voice should be heard and asked the Judiciary Committee to delay its vote on Judge Kavanaugh,” Flake tweeted on Sept. 18. 

When Dr. Ford came forward, I said that her voice should be heard and asked the Judiciary Committee to delay its vote on Judge Kavanaugh. It did so. I now implore Dr. Ford to accept the invitation for Monday, in a public or private setting. The committee should hear her voice.

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) September 18, 2018

Hatch has called the allegations a “smear campaign.” Lee said that he is looking forward to hearing more testimony, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Crapo has yet to publicly comment.