CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Police say nine women who refused to leave a West Virginia senator’s office during a protest over Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have been charged with trespassing.
News outlets report the women staged a sit-in at Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s campaign office in Charleston and were charged early Tuesday. The protesters wanted Manchin to commit to opposing Kavanaugh’s potential confirmation to the court.
While Manchin agreed to a nearly 40-minute conference call with the women, he declined to take a position on Kavanaugh.
“I will continue to listen to all West Virginians on the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, and, just like all big issues, I will look at the facts and my decision will be based on the facts,” Manchin said in a statement said. “No man can understand the trauma that women experience from a sexual assault. My heart goes out to the brave survivors who have the courage to come forward and share their story.”
His campaign said they did not want anyone arrested and would continue to have civil conversations about the confirmation process.
The action came days after California college professor Christine Blasey (BLAH’-zee) Ford testified under oath in a Senate committee hearing Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school in the 1980s. Kavanaugh denies the allegation.
Charleston Police Department Lt. Autumn Davis confirms nine people were charged but declines to comment further.
News outlets reported that the women were handcuffed and received court summons before being released.
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