Trump rebuffs Kavanaugh impeachment calls after new sexual misconduct report

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday tweeted in defense of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing:

"Brett Kavanaugh should start suing people for libel, or the Justice Department should come to his rescue," and used the hashtag "Protect Kavanaugh."

The President's Twitter outburst appears to be a response to a New York Times report of a new allegation of sexual misconduct by a man Trump tapped for the high court.

At least four Democratic presidential candidates - Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Elizabeth Warren, former congressman Beto O'Rourke and Obama's former secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro - have called called for Kavanaugh's impeachment since the report was published.

Kavanaugh's nomination to the bench in 2018 was marred by dramatic testimony alleging he tried to force himself on a woman when the two here high school students at a party.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, SAYING:

"Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter. The uproarious laughter between the two, and their having fun at my expense."

Kavanaugh vociferously denied the allegations at his confirmation hearings.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JUDGE BRETT KAVANAUGH SAYING:

"I never committed sexual assault."

The Times last week reported another alleged incident when Kavanaugh was a freshman at Yale University.

The account echoed allegations by a former Yale classmate.

Kavanaugh did not comment on the latest allegation to the New York Times, and Supreme Court press officers did not immediately return a request for comment.