Spokesman for GOP on Kavanaugh nomination resigns; has been accused of harassment in the past

[Tactical Peek]

Source: NBC


WASHINGTON — A top press adviser helping lead the Senate Judiciary Committee’s response to a sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has stepped down amid evidence he was fired from a previous political job in part because of a sexual harassment allegation against him.

Garrett Ventry, 29, who serves as a communications aide to the committee chaired by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, had been helping coordinate the majority party's messaging in the wake of Christine Blasey Ford’s claim that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her 36 years ago at a high school party. In a response to NBC News, Ventry denied any past "allegations of misconduct."

After NBC News raised questions about Ventry's employment history and the sexual assault allegation against him, Judiciary Committee Spokesman Taylor Foy replied in a statement: "While (Ventry) strongly denies allegations of wrongdoing, he decided to resign to avoid causing any distraction from the work of the committee."

Republicans familiar with the situation had been concerned that Ventry, because of his history, could not lead an effective communications response.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/spokesman-gop-kavanaugh-nomination-resigns-has-been-accused-harassment-past-n912156

[SCVDem]

1. Only the best people!

Grassley is a puppet! Senile and being controlled. Notice the lack of any decency?

[kimbutgar]

2. Grassley needs to feel the wrath of people

Find out where he lives, surround his house and refuse to let him leave. I know it sounds “ mob like” but we are at a pitchfork time in our history. Imagine over a thousand people peacefully protesting but refusing to let him go to the hearing on Monday unless he allows the fbi to investigate and release all the documents until Brett’s records are fully vetted.

[Lulu KC]

17. Maybe even post his floor plans

interior photos, map with nearby country clubs, etc. all over social media. Where's Whelan to help?

[marble falls]

5. How he could be so stupid as to let this guy on his staff is astounding.

[bitterross]

12. Clearly, Sexual Assault is not a disqualifer for GOP employment.

It does start at the top you know.

[marble falls]

19. It seems to be a qualifier.

[bluescribbler]

3. Birds of a feather

They're dropping like flies.

[DeminPennswoods]

24. Birds of a stupid feather

is more accurate.

[bluescribbler]

33. ok

I'll buy that.

[dalton99a]

4. "Ventry still appears to be employed at CRC Public Relations, a prominent GOP firm"

[KY_EnviroGuy]

11. Well, that sure rang a bell...

from another post on DO this morning:

A Perfect Tweetstorm: Senate And FBI Must Probe Whelan Hoax - By Joe Conason
See: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211164459

(snip)

Circumstantial evidence of a conspiracy is abundant in this case — including efforts to promote the “mistaken identity” theme by conservative publications, columnists, and at least one Senator. Politico reported on Friday that CRC Communications, headed by Republican P.R. veteran Greg Mueller, who helped to promote the 2004 “Swiftboat” smear of John Kerry, advised Whelan on his Twitter frameup strategy — and represents both the Federalist Society and the Judicial Crisis Network, the two national organizations leading the battle for Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

Same outfit? This plot thickens (and sickens) more by the minute......

[deurbano]

18. Good catch!

s://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/21/ed-whelan-kavanaugh-tweets-pr-firm-836405

It is unclear to what extent Whelan was coordinating with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and other Republicans on Capitol Hill.

A former CRC employee, Garrett Ventry, had been working for Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) until Saturday, when he resigned after news surfaced that he had faced accusations of sexual harassment in the past. NBC News first reported the resignation.

A source said Ventry had joined the Committee after the Federalist Society requested that CRC send somebody over to the Hill to help with the Kavanaugh nomination. Ventry did not respond to an email seeking comment and said in a Twitter post that the Committee had no foreknowledge of Whelan’s plans. It is not clear whether Ventry remains an employee of CRC, where he worked as recently as July

[DeminPennswoods]

23. Conason is the best

Loved his reporting since his days at Salon.com.

[brush]

6. WTH? Repugs, thy name is hypocrisy.

Better check the rest of them.

[central scrutinizer]

26. Reminds me of the Lewinsky hearings

When the republicans had a hard time finding someone who wasn’t plooking an intern

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. concerned that Ventry, because of his history, could not lead an effective communications response.

What about being concerned about his history?

[Scarsdale]

8. He is a republican.

I am wondering if it is in their DNA, to harass women? McConnell and Lindsey Graham are the exceptions, of course. Women are not of any interest to them.

[Norbert]

9. You can't make this shit up

Keep going GOT(rump)P(ence). We'd love more ammo to be able to take back the House, and the Senate too.

[RKP5637]

10. It just doesn't end with the F'en GOP, the herd of them ... mostly horrible people. n/t

[SunSeeker]

13. K & R for exposure.

[orangecrush]

14. Kick

[RockRaven]

15. If this were parody, it would be unfunny because it was too obvious or heavy-handed.

Just another day in the GOP.

[paleotn]

16. Scum will be scum and trash will be trash...

They can't help themselves. And lucky for us, they're heavily concentrated on one portion of the political spectrum. Seems today, if they're a Republican hack, the odds they've done and / or are doing something royally fucked up is approaching 1.

[calimary]

20. And trash of a feather scums together.

Are there as many sexual predators within the GOP as there are Russians? Sure does look like it. I don’t know which vicious, malignant, and utterly skeevy infestation is worse, frankly.

[Judi Lynn]

21. Him's onwy 29 years old, and look how far him's come.

Garrett Ventry: GOP Aide Resigns After Sexual Harassment Allegations

https://heavy.com/news/2018/09/garrett-ventry/

[FakeNoose]

22. Looks like somebody dropped a dime on Ventry

Maybe somebody sent an anonymous tip to NBC News. I seriously doubt that NBC found this on their own.

[APPPLE_PIE]

25. Grassley Folds

Version 1: Grassley would fold if Professor Ford said she would immediately press charges for attempted rape on both Kavanaugh and Mr. Judge if her terms were not met. Statute of Limitations have not expired where the attempted rape occured.

Version 2: Wait until he is confirmed ( if he makes it ) and then press charges. When he goes down, you get two for one. The Judgeship and the Supreme Court are then both captured. The benefit is that when the Dems win the Senate they control the pick, effectively stealing the SCOTUS back by trading Merrick for Kavanaugh.

I like version 1

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

27. Pigs of a feather flock together...

... eom.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

28. You can't makes this shit up

[Julian Englis]

29. K & R

[forgotmylogin]

30. You can't misbehave as a communication aide...

but a president? NO PROBLEM.

This is like Billy Bush getting fired for what TRMP said.

[Cha]

32. Or a SCOTUS nominee.. no worries!

Yes, it is reminiscent of billy bush.

[riversedge]

31. going going gone!!