Confidentiality Denied

Democrats Leaked The First Allegation

PBS’ LISA DESJARDINS: “Top Democratic sources told me, yes, this was a leak by Democrats.” (PBS’ “PBS NewsHour,” 9/14/2018)

• NBC’s STEPHANIE GOSK: “The first biggest problem is the fact that it leaked. Her name leaked.” NBC’s MEGYN KELLY: “The Democrats leaked it. The Democrats leaked it. … They outed her. They’re the ones who had her name.” (NBC’s “Megyn Kelly Today,” 9/20/2018)

• SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT), Judiciary Committee Member: “After six weeks in the United States Senate, a lot of things leak.” (MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes,” 9/20/2018)

Democrats Spoke To The Media About The Second Allegation, Instead Of The Judiciary Committee

ABC’s GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: “Why did she come forward?”

THE NEW YORKER’s RONAN FARROW: “She came forward because Senate Democrats began looking at this claim. She did not flag this for those Democrats.” (ABC’s “Good Morning America,” 9/24/2018)

• “The offices of at least four Democratic senators have received information about the allegation, and at least two have begun investigating it…. Democratic Senate offices reviewing the allegations believe that they merit further investigation. ‘This is another serious, credible, and disturbing allegation against Brett Kavanagh. It should be fully investigated,’ Senator Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, said.” (“Senate Democrats Investigate a New Allegation of Sexual Misconduct, from Brett Kavanaugh’s College Years,” The New Yorker, 9/23/2018)

“A spokesperson for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Sunday night … in a statement slammed Democrats for ‘withholding information’ regarding the allegations. ‘Yet again, Senate Democrats actively withheld information from the rest of the Committee only to drop information at politically opportune moments,’ the statement said, doubling down on his remarks that Democrats withheld the first allegation against Kavanaugh from Christine Blasey Ford, who went public last week.” (“Grassley: Dems 'Withheld Information' On New Kavanaugh Allegation,” The Hill, 9/23/2018)

In Both Cases, The Decision To Remain Confidential ‘Was Essentially Taken Away From Her As Those Allegations Were Leaked’

DEBRA KATZ: “She [Dr. Ford] was fine with that decision [of not getting involved], but that decision was taken away from her after the hearings when her allegations were essentially leaked.” (“Why Dianne Feinstein Waited To Take The Brett Kavanaugh Allegations To The FBI,” CNN, 9/18/2018)

THE NEW YORKER’s RONAN FARROW: “And she [Ramirez] felt it was important that she tell her story before others did without her consent because so many people on the Hill were looking at this …” (ABC’s “Good Morning America,” 9/24/2018)