WASHINGTON — With high drama in the making, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh emphatically fended off new accusations of sexual misconduct ahead of a charged public Senate hearing that could determine whether Republicans can salvage his nomination and enshrine a high court conservative majority. Kavanaugh’s ascendance to the high court could help lock in a conservative majority for a generation, shaping dozens of rulings on abortion, regulation, the environment and more. In the hours before the hearing, Republicans were rocked by the new accusation from a third woman, Julie Swetnick. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell all week has said Republicans will turn to a committee vote on Kavanaugh after the hearing. —-Kavanaugh testimony: http://apne.ws/xkhv2YvFord testimony: http://apne.ws/Wpklfy3Kavanaugh testimony from Sept. 17: http://apne.ws/fmGaR3xKavanaugh testimony from Sept. 25: http://apne.ws/PBbVJpg——For more coverage of Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, visit https://apnews.com/tag/Kavanaughnomination

Source: National Post September 27, 2018 02:15 UTC