Kavanaugh: Trump called to say ‘he’s standing by me’

Brett Kavanaugh said President Trump called him on Monday to tell the Supreme Court nominee that he was “standing by” him, their first known conversation since sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh went public.

“I know he’s going to stand by me. He called me this afternoon and he said he’s standing by me,” Kavanaugh told Fox News during an interview that aired Monday evening. 

{mosads}The TV interview, which is unusual for a Supreme Court nominee, comes as a second sexual misconduct allegation has thrown Kavanaugh’s nomination into a new round of chaos. 

But the White House and congressional Republicans launched a full-scale counteroffensive on Monday to try to defend Kavanaugh and undercut the second claim. 

Trump defended Kavanaugh while speaking with reporters on Monday morning. 

“Judge Kavanaugh is an outstanding person, and I am with him all the way,” Trump said ahead of a meeting at the United Nations in New York. “I think it could be — chance that this could be one of the single most unfair, unjust things to happen to a candidate for anything.”

He also tweeted later on Monday night that Kavanaugh is a “wonderful man.”

The Democrats are working hard to destroy a wonderful man, and a man who has the potential to be one of our greatest Supreme Court Justices ever, with an array of False Accusations the likes of which have never been seen before!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2018

Kavanaugh’s interview with Fox News comes less than a day after The New Yorker reported that Senate Democrats are investigating a second sexual misconduct allegation dating back to Kavanaugh’s freshman year at Yale University.

Deborah Ramirez says Kavanaugh exposed himself in front of her during a gathering at Yale. She told The New Yorker that Kavanaugh thrust his penis in her face, causing her to touch it without her consent.

Kavanaugh denies any wrongdoing, repeatedly stating in the Fox News interview that he has never sexually assaulted anyone.

Updated 10:42 p.m.