The White House is questioning the motivation of The New York Times reporter who uncovered Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh’s “ice throwing” incident from 1985.
The newspaper detailed how Judge Kavanaugh as a 21-year-old junior at Yale University was questioned by police about an altercation in a bar, including allegations that he threw ice “for some reason.”
The report fueled new calls to expand a reopened FBI background check of Judge Kavanaugh to include his drinking habits.
“Democrats desperately attack Judge Kavanaugh for throwing ice during college. What motivated New York Times reporter to write this ridiculous story? Throwing ice 33 years ago, or her opinion of Judge Kavanaugh in July?” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted Monday night.
She included a link to tweet by the reporter, Emily Bazelon.
Democrats desperately attack Judge Kavanaugh for throwing ice during college. What motivated New York Times reporter to write this ridiculous story? Throwing ice 33 years ago, or her opinion of Judge Kavanaugh in July? https://t.co/JwiP3ELqkD
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) October 2, 2018
As a @YaleLawSch grad & lecturer, I strongly disassociate myself from tonight’s praise of Brett Kavanaugh. With respect, he’s a 5th vote for a hard-right turn on voting rights and so much more that will harm the democratic process & prevent a more equal society. 1/2
— Emily Bazelon (@emilybazelon) July 10, 2018
The reporter’s tweet from July 10, the day after President Trump nominated Judge Kavanaugh, warned that the judge would be “a hard-right turn” for the high court.
“As a @YaleLawSch grad & lecturer, I strongly disassociate myself from tonight’s praise of Brett Kavanaugh. With respect, he’s a 5th vote for a hard-right turn on voting rights and so much more that will harm the democratic process & prevent a more equal society,” Ms. Bazelon tweeted.
Judge Kavanaugh was among five men questioned about the altercation at the bar in which another man allegedly threw a glass. Judge Kavanaugh was not arrested, according to the newspaper.
The White House reopened the FBI background check to explore allegations a sexual misconduct when Judge Kavanaugh was in high school and college.
The investigation stems from California psychologist and university professor Christine Blasey Ford’s claim that Judge Kavanaugh groped her at a high school party when she was 15 and he was 17.
Her story so far could not be corroborated.
The new FBI check has delayed a confirmation vote. The probe is intended to last a week, with GOP leaders saying they still intend to vote later this week.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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