Second Kavanaugh Accuser Lives In Boulder, Protests Erupt In Denver
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)- The second woman to come forward and accuse Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct lives in Boulder. This comes amid protests in downtown Denver.
A rally against Kavanaugh was planned before news suddenly hit much closer to home with new sexual misconduct allegations by a Colorado woman. The demonstration took place across the street from the Denver office of Colorado's Republican Sen. Cory Gardner.
Deborah Ramirez claims that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her during a drinking game at a party when they were both freshman at Yale University.
Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat representing Colorado in Congress, says Democratic staff members of the Senate Judiciary Committee reached out to them last week regarding Ramirez and her claims.
Bennet's office told CBS4 that is is unclear whether Ramirez will have the opportunity to speak before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but she is expected to speak in some manner this week.
The "Stop Kavanaugh" Denver protesters outside Gardner's office say they believe the Boulder woman's claim regarding alleged sexual abuse by the Supreme Court nominee.
"We believe Anita Hill, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, and we believe Deborah Ramirez," said Justine Sandoval, a community activist.
In 1991, Anita Hill accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in a hearing before he was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The news of Ramirez's allegations broke in a New Yorker article. She says she and Kavanaugh were both students in the early 1980s.
Lisa Calderon of the Colorado Latino Forum knows Ramirez.
"She is someone who has great integrity, who has dedicated her life to working with victims," she said.
Ramirez has lived in Connecticut, Massachusetts and other locations. She also has worked as a domestic abuse counselor and is listed as a on public records as a Democrat.
She lives in Boulder where she has made clear that she has nothing further to say at the present time. A sign on a garbage can outside her house read "no comment" and to call her attorney.
Kavanaugh had further comment writing,
"The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. The last-minute character assassination will not succeed."
Dozens of people implored Gardner not to give Kavanaugh his confirmation vote. His office says it welcomes the efforts of the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate the allegations.
Gardner's office released this statement, "Senator Gardner was first made aware of these allegations when the New Yorker story was published Sunday evening. Investigators from Chairman Grassley's staff immediately contacted Ms. Ramirez's attorney to gather more information about what allegedly occurred. Senator Gardner absolutely supports efforts by the Senate Judiciary Committee to gather more information and investigate these claims."
Dozens of people protesting the nomination of Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court were arrested Monday outside the office of Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
The protesters wore black "Be A Hero" shirts and sat outside Collins' office chanting various slogans, including "we will not be silenced." Members of the U.S. Capitol police arrested them one-by-one and led them away.
Kavanaugh is set to testify Thursday at a hearing with Christine Blasey Ford, who accuses him of sexual assault.
Kavanaugh has denied her allegations that he assaulted her at a party when they were in high school. He's also denied new accusations by Ramirez who says he exposed himself to her while they were students at Yale.
President Donald Trump is pledging his support for Kavanaugh, saying the sexual misconduct allegations against his choice are "totally political."
Trump, at the United Nations in New York, declared that Kavanaugh is "outstanding," and added, "I am with him all the way."