HUD warns employees livestreaming Kavanaugh hearing about overloading internet

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a warning on Thursday that the agency’s internet network may go down because so many of its employees are watching the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the woman who has accused him of sexual assault.

“The high interest in the live Supreme Court nomination hearing has negatively impacted HUD’s network and business operations,” the agency’s chief information officer wrote in a warning Thursday. 

“To preserve the integrity of the system and our mission, the CIO will be forced to temporarily block these websites if the high volume persists,” the warning added. “To avoid this inconvenience, please discontinue streaming this live event on HUD’s network.”

HUD’s CIO sends email saying department’s network is getting overwhelmed by employees watching hearing, says they may block sites showing it pic.twitter.com/Wzp9F7gamp

— Andrew Beaujon (@abeaujon) September 27, 2018

Department spokesperson Brian Sullivan told The Hill that the warning was a standard, technical announcement and no HUD employee is being blocked from viewing the live coverage. 

{mosads}Kavanaugh and a woman who has accused him of sexually assaulting her at a party in the summer of 1982, Christine Blasey Ford, both testified before the Senate committee Thursday.

Kavanaugh has unequivocally denied the allegation.

Ford said Thursday that she is “100 percent” sure that Kavanaugh attacked her. Kavanaugh presented as evidence his calendars from the summer as well as denials by other people Ford identified as attending the event.

Kavanaugh has also been accused by two other women of sexual misconduct.

Deborah Ramirez in a New Yorker report Sunday accused him of exposing himself to her at a party in college.

Attorney Michael Avenatti revealed Wednesday morning allegations from Julie Swetnick that Kavanaugh helped drug or intoxicate girls for a “gang rape” scheme in high school and was present when Swetnick was attacked in one such incident.

Kavanaugh has also denied both claims.

“This whole two week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fueled with apparent pent up anger at President Trump and the 2016 election,” Kavanaugh said Thursday. “I’ve never sexually assaulted anyone. Not in college, not in high school, not ever.”

The committee will vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation Friday.