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BRETT Kavanaugh was Donald Trump's pick to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy following his retirement from the Supreme Court.

Democrats fought the move though Kavanaugh won the lifetime appointment to Supreme Court after a historic Senate Vote.

 Brett Kavanaugh takes notes as the Senate Judiciary Committee members make opening statements during his confirmation hearing
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Brett Kavanaugh takes notes as the Senate Judiciary Committee members make opening statements during his confirmation hearingCredit: AP:Associated Press

Who is Judge Brett Kavanaugh?

Brett Kavanaugh, 53, is a judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

He was born on Februaury 12, 1965, in Washington DC.

He has been nominated to become an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the US.

Previously he was the White House Staff Secretary for George W Bush.

He was the attorney for Ken Starr and played a key role in drafting the Starr Report which advocated the impeachment of Bill Clinton.

On July 9, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh to become an Associate Justice after Anthony Kennedy retired.

Mr Kavanaugh married Ashley Estes in 2004 and they have two children, Liza and Margaret.

Ashley served as Personal Secretary to  President George W Bush from the start of his Presidency to 2004

He is a keen marathon runner and raced in the Boston Marathon twice.

Protesters demonstrate against Brett Kavanaugh's nomination outside on the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC

What are the sexual assault accusations?

Christine Blasey Ford alleged in an interview with the on Sunday, September 16, that Mr Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed and tried to undress her when they were both teenagers.

Professor Ford testified in a hearing on September 27 claiming the judge attacked her in 1982, and feared he might "kill her".

She said: "Brett groped me and tried to take off my clothes. He had a hard time because he was so drunk, and because I was wearing a one-piece bathing suit under my clothes.

"I believed he was going to rape me. I tried to yell for help. When I did, Brett put his hand over my mouth to stop me from screaming.

"It was hard for me to breathe, and I thought that Brett was accidentally going to kill me. This was what terrified me the most, and has had the most lasting impact on my life."

The news comes as a second woman came forward to accuse the prospective Supreme Court justice of sexual misconduct when they were both at Yale University in the 1980s, the reports.

Deborah Ramirez, 53, who was at university with Kavanaugh, claims he exposed himself at a party and thrust his penis into her face when they were both drunk at a dorm party.

A third woman is also expected to go public with accusations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh this week.

Her attorney, Michael Avenatti, told the: "“She reached out to me. We vetted her claim and she satisfactorily passed that vetting.”

Kavanaugh told the senate hearings he had never had a "sexual or physical encounter of any kind" with Christine Blasey Ford.

He said that he was the victim of a "political hit" after Dr Ford said she was "100 per cent certain" he attacked her.

 Brett Kavanaugh has the backing of Donald Trump
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Brett Kavanaugh has the backing of Donald TrumpCredit: Reuters

Will Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee be confirmed by the Senate?

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to approve Kavanaugh's nomination to the US supreme court.

Republican senator Jeff Flake has called for a delay of the vote for up to a week, announcing he will support moving forward with the understanding of an investigation into allegations against Kavanaugh.

The senate vote was livestreamed on The Sun Online, BBC News and Sky News.

The vote comes after an emotionally-charged Kavanaugh testified to the Senate on allegations of sexual misconduct in 1982.

Kavanaugh's appointment tilts the power balance in the Supreme Court in favour of the Republicans.

This includes repercussions for any investigation into Trump.

If it came to it, Kavanaugh could effectively allow Trump to pardon himself if any wrongdoing was discovered.

In a 2009 legal article he argued that a sitting president should be immune to prosecution.

Democrats are also worried that his appointment will bring a more conservative approach to contentious issues such as abortion, gay rights and gun control.

And Democrats want to review his record working for Bush, but the Trump administration has refused to do so, citing “constitutional privilege”.

The opening day of the hearing saw protesters disrupt proceedings with around 20 people removed.

On 4 October the FBI supplied its report, with Republicans deeming it satisfactory and thorough and Democrats saying it is not thorough enough.

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