Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination stumbles after assault claim as senators call to delay vote

The confirmation of Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been plunged into uncertainty after US congressmen called to delay a vote on his candidacy following a claim of sexual assault. 

Leading Democrats want the FBI to investigate the allegation before a Senate committee votes on his nomination while two Republican senators have also backed a delay until the accuser gives testimony. 

The push to reschedule Thursday’s vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee came after Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor, went public with her account of an alleged assault in the early 1980s. 

She said that Mr Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed and groped her while drunk, covering her mouth when she tried to scream as a friend watched on, before she was able to escape the room. 

Both Mrs Ford and Mr Kavanaugh were teenagers at the time of the alleged incident. Mr Kavanaugh has “categorically and unequivocally” denied the allegation. 

The claim had been outlined in a letter to the leading Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Dianne Feinstein, with a request for anonymity. However Mrs Ford decided to go public through The Washington Post after details of her claim begun to leak. 

The allegation has thrown Mr Kavanaugh’s nomination process into chaos, coming just days before he appeared on track to be approved by the committee’s members. A vote of the full Senate would have followed. 

The Republican leadership wants to wrap up the confirmation process by the November midterm elections, fearing the Democrats could win back the Senate majority then and block his appointment. 

Since Mrs Ford went public there has been growing pressure in Washington to delay Thursday’s vote from both Democrats and Republicans. 

Ms Feinstein, the Democratic senator from California, called for a delay until an investigation was complete. She said: “I support Mrs Ford’s decision to share her story, and now that she has, it is in the hands of the FBI to conduct an investigation. This should happen before the Senate moves forward on this nominee.”

Jeff Flake, the Republican senator for Arizona who sits on the committee, said: “I’ve made it clear that I’m not comfortable moving ahead with the vote on Thursday if we have not heard her side of the story or explored this further.”

Bob Corker, the Republican senator for Tennessee who, like Mr Flake, is a frequent critic of Mr Trump, also backed calls for a delay. He said it "would be best for all involved" for the vote not to take place until Mrs Ford had given testimony.  

On Monday, Mrs Ford’s lawyer Debra Katz said she was willing to speak to the committee about her allegation. Mr Kavanaugh also said he would be willing to speak as he issued a new denial. 

Mr Kavanaugh said in a statement circulated by the White House: “This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes—to her or to anyone. 

"Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday. 

"I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.”

The White House also appeared to support hearing from Mrs Ford. 

Kellyanne Conway, an adviser to Mr Trump, said: “This woman should not be insulted and she should not be ignored. I think the Senate is headed toward a reasonable approach, allowing this woman to be heard in sworn testimony, allowing Judge Kavanaugh to be heard in sworn testimony.”

The US president is yet to comment on the claim.