Mark Judge, the Brett Kavanaugh high school buddy Christine Blasey Ford says watched as Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her at party in the 80s, has officially responded through his lawyer.
Judge’s attorney Barbara Van Gelder submitted a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) via email on Tuesday, saying that it was a statement Judge wanted conveyed.
“I did not ask to be involved in this matter nor did anyone ask me to be involved. The only reasons I am involved is because Dr. Christine Blasey Ford remembers me as the other person in the room during the alleged assault,” he said. “In fact, I have no memory of this alleged incident. Brett Kavanaugh and I were friends in high school but I do not recall the party described in Dr. Ford’s letter.”
“More to the point, I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes,” he continued. “I have no more information to offer the Committee and I do not wish to speak publicly regarding the incidents described in Dr. Ford’s letter.”
Judge already said Friday that the allegation was “absolutely nuts” and that he “never saw Brett act that way.”
This is important because Kavanaugh and Ford are expected to appear at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Monday to testify. The fact that the one person who Ford says witnessed the attempted assault will not be attending the Capitol Hill hearing is newsworthy.
NBC News legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Daniel S. Goldman went so far as to say that without Judge’s testimony the hearing would be a “sham.”
Kavanaugh has denied the allegations against him, while Ford has stated through her attorney Debra Katz that she is willing to testify publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding her allegations. Now Judge says he doesn’t remember it and won’t testify.
While Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing took place two weeks back, things were certainly thrown for a loop on Thursday when Sen. Dianne Feinstein forwarded Ford’s allegation (she was still unnamed at the time) to the FBI. Over the weekend, Ford went public in an interview with the Washington Post, claiming that Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her at a party in the 80s and that she did not speak of this until 2012, during couples therapy. Ford said she decided it was her “civic responsibility” to come forward, and now a new hearing will take place. She also said Mark Judge witnessed it.
Ford’s husband Russell said that he recalled her mention of Kavanaugh by name.
Kavanaugh denied the allegations in no uncertain terms.
“I have never done anything like what the accuser describes — to her or to anyone,” Kavanaugh said on Monday. “Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday. I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.”
The White House responded saying that Kavanaugh would be able to testify tomorrow, if need be.
“Judge Kavanaugh looks forward to a hearing where he can clear his name of this false allegation. He stands ready to testify tomorrow if the Senate is ready to hear him,” spokesman Raj Shah said.
[Image via SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images]
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