6 Kavanaugh supporters publicly turn on him in wake of allegations

Six people who initially backed Brett Kavanaugh and his Supreme Court nomination have now publicly backed away from him.

The apparent changes of heart come as multiple allegations of sexual assault have been levied against Kavanaugh, including by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez.

Once Ford came forward, many who initially backed Kavanaugh went silent. Now, some Kavanaugh supporters are publicly voicing serious concerns.

Yale professor Akhil Amar endorsed Kavanaugh in a New York Times op-ed and testified in favor of his nomination. But now Amar, who describes the allegations against Kavanaugh as “serious,” has called for an investigation into the claims.

Amar said he supports a probe “even if that means a brief additional delay on the ultimate vote on Judge Kavanaugh, and even if that investigatory delay imperils his confirmation.”

Kent Sinclair, Douglas Rutzen, and Mark Osler, Yale classmates who all signed a letter of support for Kavanaugh addressed to the Senate Judiciary Committee, are now also calling for at least a delay in his confirmation.

Contacted by the Washington Post, all three said the allegations against Kavanaugh should be investigated. In a joint statement Sinclair and Rutzen said the confirmation should “seriously” consider “allegations of sexual violence” that have been made.

Osler told the Post as well that “the circumstances need to be probed.”

Others who were once on record backing Kavanaugh have recanted. Yale classmates Louisa Garry and Dino Ewing signed a statement of support for Kavanaugh that was drafted by Kavanaugh’s lawyers to accompany a story by the New Yorker that looked into allegations from Ramirez against Kavanaugh. After learning of the investigation, Garry and Ewing asked the New Yorker to withdraw their names from the letter.

But even with concern coming from Kavanaugh supporters, Senate Republicans continue to push for a quick confirmation without an FBI investigation, and they continue to praise their nominee.

In fact, Senate Republicans have outsourced their questioning at the Kavanaugh hearing to a female attorney to avoid appearing sexist.

But those who have known Kavanaugh best, and who once announced unabashed support for his nomination, are now hitting the brakes and demanding that more be done.

Even Kavanaugh supporters are expressing doubts, but Republicans aren’t seriously listening.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.