The three accusers who threaten Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation

President Trump picked Judge Brett Kavanaugh for a vacant Supreme Court seat in early July, and for a couple of months it looked as though the appeals court judge for the District of Columbia might cruise to confirmation despite the Republicans’ slim Senate majority.

Then came Christine Blasey Ford’s allegation, made public Sept. 16, that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the 1980s, when they were high school students in suburban Maryland. Kavanaugh denied the charges.

A week later came a new accusation, this one from Yale classmate Deborah Ramirez, who said Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a drunken dormitory party. Again, Kavanaugh denied the charge, saying: “This alleged event from 35 years ago did not happen.”

This week, Julie Swetnick alleged that Kavanaugh was present at a 1982 house party where the Washington woman says she was gang raped. “This is ridiculous and from the Twilight Zone,” said Kavanaugh.

Here’s a look at the three women accusing the Supreme Court nominee.

Julie Swetnick

Time frame: High school

Allegation: Swetnick says Brett Kavanaugh was present at a 1982 house party where she was gang-raped. She does not accuse Kavanaugh of participating in the assault, but said she witnessed efforts by Kavanaugh and others to get girls “inebriated and disoriented so they could then be ‘gang-raped.’”

Response: Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.

Christine Blasey Ford

Time frame: High school

Allegation: Ford says that at a party, a drunken Brett Kavanaugh pinned her on a bed, groped her, tried removing her clothing and held his hand over her mouth to stifle her screams. She considers it “attempted rape.”

Response: Kavanaugh has denied the allegation.

Deborah Ramirez

Time frame: College

Allegation: Ramirez says Brett Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at close range at a drunken dormitory party when they were freshmen at Yale University.

Response: Kavanaugh has denied the allegation.