Republican Senate Blowing Off Deborah Ramirez

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by: Colorado Pols

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley disputed accusations from Democrats that he and his staff have tried to brush away allegations against Brett Kavanaugh from a second accuser, Deborah Ramirez.

During Friday’s committee meeting, the Iowa Republican said he “acted immediately” to investigate her charges and that his staff “repeatedly” tried to accommodate Ramirez as long as she provided evidence to back up her claim…

“It seems the Republican strategy is no longer attack the victim. It is ignore the victim,” [Sen. Dianne] Feinstein said at Friday’s hearing. [Pols emphasis] “It is, in fact, a real test for the United States Senate and for our country to see how we treat women – especially women who are survivors of sexual assault. I believe we can do better.”

You know what would help right now, a lot? A strongly worded statement from Deborah Ramirez’s Republican Senator.

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Sen. Cory Gardner (R).

After yesterday’s riveting all-day hearing featuring the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and her allegation of attempted violent sexual assault by U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, observers in Colorado might expect the next logical step in the process to be to hear from the other women who have come forward with their own stories of sexual misconduct. The second woman to go public with her story about Kavanaugh was Deborah Ramirez of Boulder, who attended Yale University in the 1980s where the alleged incident took place.

Recall that in the immediate aftermath of Ramirez’s story being published last weekend, Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado was seemingly unequivocal that his constituent should be heard and her claims properly investigated:

“Senator Gardner was first made aware of these allegations when the New Yorker story was published Sunday evening,” Gardner spokesman Casey Contres said in an email Monday morning. “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.” [Pols emphasis]

But as 9NEWS’ Kevin Vaughan reported last night, communications between Ramirez’s attorney and the Senate Republicans who are supposed to be taking her allegations seriously have broken down:

The attorney for a Boulder woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct released a series of e-mails Thursday morning detailing his attempts to open a discussion with the Senate Judiciary Committee over her assertions.

Repeatedly, the e-mails show a member of the committee’s Republican staff requested that Deborah Ramirez provide “evidence” supporting her allegation “before we discuss a phone call or any other next steps.” [Pols emphasis]

As readers know, the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote for today to advance Kavanaugh’s nomination to the full Senate. With Senate Republicans now stalling Ramirez instead of working out the logistics of a swift hearing to receive the testimony she is by all accounts willing to provide, it is a safe assumption that GOP leadership does not intend to allow a fair hearing for Ramirez as was given to Dr. Ford.

With Senate leaders having backtracked on their previous lip service to giving Ramirez’s allegation proper consideration, the onus now falls squarely on Sen. Gardner to intervene in this situation on behalf of his own constituent. We realize this suggestion will be received cynically by many of our readers, and Gardner’s actions may well bear out that cynicism. But if Gardner were to call for a pause in the headlong rush to vote on Kavanaugh following yesterday’s hearing so he can keep his promise to Ramirez, it would be a very smart political move for him in the long term.

If the vote goes forward without Ramirez’s testimony it’s a political disaster for Republicans generally, but Cory Gardner personally. This is Gardner’s constituent–our neighbor–to whom Gardner made a promise. And this is a terrible promise to break.

12 thoughts on “Republican Senate Blowing Off Deborah Ramirez”

unnamed says:

September 28, 2018 at 9:13 am

Sadly, keeping promises is not Gardner's strong suit.

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Moderatus says:

September 28, 2018 at 10:16 am

Liars. No one is "blowing off" Deborah Ramirez. She was asked to PROVIDE EVIDENCE.

What the hell is happening to this country? Does due process and the rule of law mean nothing to Democrats any more? This is scary. You people are really dangerous.

Also, Juanita Broadderick says hello! She has a #metoo story too if you ever care to hear it.

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1. unnamed says:
  
  September 28, 2018 at 10:29 am
  
  Yeah. We need lectures from a guy who treats women that accuses Republican men like this:
  
  Moderatus says:
  
  September 19, 2018 at 4:30 PM MDT
  
  We all know what her motive is. She is a Democrat activist and this is a chance to hurt Republicans. Nothing else matters, otherwise this would have been dealt with years ago.
  
  Moderatus says:
  
  September 24, 2018 at 1:26 PM MDT
  
  Don't you get it? It's a dog pile! They'll be lining up now, and it's all a lie for publicity. The only people who believe this never wanted to give Brett Kavanaugh a chance anyway.
  
  So, when you shared the post debunking your Fake News about Jared Polis with your alleged female friends, did you share those comments.
  
  I am a little confused. A few days ago you said this:
  
  Moderatus says:
  
  September 24, 2018 at 1:24 PM MDT
  
  Bye!
  
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2. Genghis says:
  
  September 28, 2018 at 10:47 am
  
  Moderapist, what do you believe "evidence" means?
  
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  1. JohnInDenver says:
    
    September 28, 2018 at 11:03 am
    
    Once you tell us what you mean by "evidence," Moderatus, please let us know a bit of context. How much "evidence" do you have from a casual gathering in your living accommodations of 35 years ago? How much from any unplanned event from your college days?
    
    I was in graduate school then — and could do no more that provide my memory of events. There may be others who would remember the same events, but I could not provide any material evidence. I can only think of one friend who has diligently been writing a daily entry for decades and has kept the volumes of his thoughts — and I'll bet he didn't include full descriptions of every party he went to, either.
    
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3. RepealAndReplace says:
  
  September 28, 2018 at 11:26 am
  
  Her sworn testimony is evidence you moron
  
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4. spaceman65 says:
  
  September 28, 2018 at 2:24 pm
  
  Moddy, you should consider learning the law, because you clearly have no clue. Her testimony (i.e., her story) IS evidence. Many sexual assault cases do not have physical evidence. A victim's testimony can be the only evidence, and it is enough to support a conviction if the jury chooses to believe and the testimony satisfies each element of the offense. So once again, you are wrong.
  
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5. Gray in Mountains says:
  
  September 28, 2018 at 5:10 pm
  
  Broderick is not alleging assault by Kavanaugh. It is Kavanaugh's behaviors that ought inform committee members of Kavanaugh's suitability to receive appointment.
  
  Broderick's assault by Clinton has already been considered in the last impeachment. Clinton's behaviors have had serious consequences.
  
  It is almost time for Kavanaugh to begin experiencing consequences for his behaviors
  
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6. marklane1351 says:
  
  September 30, 2018 at 12:01 am
  
  She is being asked to provide evidence before Republicans will talk to her, that is on heard of
  
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Phoenix Rising says:

September 28, 2018 at 11:04 pm

Sounds like the FBI is on the case; hopefully Ramirez is on the schedule as initial indicators say she will be.

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Independent Voter says:

September 29, 2018 at 11:16 pm

How did Colorado fall for Gardner?

Bring back Udall.

Gardner has to go in 2020

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1. RepealAndReplace says:
  
  September 30, 2018 at 7:15 am
  
  Where to begin in answering that question………..
  
  1. It was a midterm election in the 6th year of an incumbent president's term. The president's party usually loses some seats.
  
  2. Gardner sold himself as happy, cheerful, moderate conservative. Remember the commercials of his smiling face in front of the wind farm (gee, maybe Cory is an environmentalist). He ran a smart campaign.
  
  3. We were told he would not have any impact on reproductive choice. IIRC, the Denver Post used that to justify its endorsement of him.
  
  4. Mark Udall ran a God-awful campaign. All those damn commercials with his scowling face talking about abortion. I am not saying that he should not have mentioned reproductive choice but he should have talked about other stuff too.
  
  5. And in politics, style is as important as substance. The scowl never wins an election. Remember Ronald Reagan and his cheerful disposition? Udall apparently did not.
  
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