President (To Win Colorado) See Full Big Line

(D) Kamala Harris

(R) Donald Trump

80%↑

20%

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

(R) V. Archuleta

98%

2%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

(R) Marshall Dawson

95%

5%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Hurd

(D) Adam Frisch

50%

50%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert

(D) Trisha Calvarese

90%

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Crank

(D) River Gassen

80%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

(R) John Fabbricatore

90%

10%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) B. Pettersen

(R) Sergei Matveyuk

90%

10%

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(R) Gabe Evans

52%↑

48%↓

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

5%

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
September 28, 2018 11:15 AM UTC

Republican Senate Blowing Off Deborah Ramirez

  • 12 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: USA TODAY:

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.

—–

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.

Tweet
Share

Comments

12 thoughts on “Republican Senate Blowing Off Deborah Ramirez”

  2. 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.

    1. 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!

      1. 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.

    4. 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.

    5. 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

    1. 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.

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Yadira Caraveo
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

177 readers online now

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!