Brett Kavanaugh hit by fresh accusation of misconduct

New Yorker magazine reports that Donald Trump's Supreme Court choice pick has another accusation of sexual misconduct against him

(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 05, 2018 (FILES) In this file photo taken on September 5, 2018; US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh speaks on the second day of his confirmation hearShow more

The New Yorker magazine is reporting that Senate Democrats are investigating a second woman's accusation of sexual misconduct by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh from his teenage years.

In a story posted on Sunday night on its website, The New Yorker reports that the claim dates to the 1983-84 academic year, Mr Kavanaugh's freshman year at Yale University.

The article identifies the woman as 53-year-old Deborah Ramirez. It says she described the incident in an interview after being contacted by the magazine.

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The magazine says Ms Ramirez remembers that Mr Kavanaugh exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party, thrust his penis in her face, and caused her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away.

In a statement provided by the White House, Mr Kavanaugh denies the event ever happened.

He says the event “did not happen” and that the allegation is “a smear, plain and simple.”

The White House spokeswoman adds in a second statement that the allegation is “designed to tear down a good man.”

Mr Kavanaugh is slated to testify Thursday about the first allegation of sexual assault, dating back from a high school party more than 35 years ago. His accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, is also set to testify.

Michael Avenatti, the lawyer acting for Stormy Daniels, who is acting against the president on another front, sent a tweet demanding that legal scrutiny was extended to the new allegations: