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Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh will defend himself in the Senate on Thursday from charges by multiple women about his conduct as a student decades ago, according to prepared remarks. In the opening statement to his testimony before the Senate judiciary committee, Kavanaugh calls sexual assault "horrific" and "morally wrong."
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The appellate court judge's written statement came a short time after attorney Michael Avenatti identified Julie Swetnick as the third of Kavanaugh's accusers. Avenatti said earlier this week Swetnick's story was coming.
Avenatti posted an affidavit from Swetnick on his Twitter account Wednesday. In it, Swetnick said she witnessed attempts by Kavanaugh, high school friend Mark Judge and others at house parties in the 1980s to get girls "inebriated and disoriented so they could then be 'gang raped' in a side room or bedroom by a 'train' of numerous boys."
Swetnick has been employed by the U.S. Mint and State Department, and has held security clearances.
Later Wednesday, Kavanaugh responded with a statement issued by the White House.
"This is ridiculous and from the Twilight Zone," Kavanaugh said. "I don't know who this is and this never happened.
Swetnick's statement Wednesday follows similar allegations of lewd conduct by Kavanaugh during his high school and college years from Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez. Ford and Kavanaugh are scheduled to testify before the judiciary committee Thursday. The panel is set to vote on Kavanaugh's appointment to the high court bench Friday.
Swetnick's statement does not claim sexual assault, but it does say she saw Kavanaugh at parties "engage in abusive and physically aggressive behavior toward girls" and spike the punch with alcohol.
She added that she was drugged and "unable to fight off the boys raping me" at a 1982 party, but did not count Kavanaugh among her attackers.
Ford has accused Kavanaugh of forcing her onto a bed and grinding against her in an attempt at sex during one high school-era party. She reiterated her allegations in remarks prepared for Thursday's hearing. The judiciary committee released the remarks Wednesday.
"The details about that night that bring me here today are ones I will never forget. They have been seared into my memory and have haunted me episodically as an adult," she wrote.
Ford said her "greatest fears have been realized" with the "constant harassment" and death threats toward her and her family since she was identified
In his written remarks, Kavanaugh calls the scandal "grotesque" and an "obvious character assassination." He also admits to drinking beer with friends during his school days, but says, "I never did anything remotely resembling what Dr. Ford describes."
Ramirez, a Yale University classmate, said he exposed himself at a party.
Avenetti has repeatedly called for an FBI investigation of Swetnick's allegations, and released Swetnick's affidavit to the chief counsel of the judiciary committee Wednesday.
"Under no circumstances should Brett Kavanaugh be confirmed absent a full and complete investigation," he said.
Kavanaugh has denied misconduct and promised he would not be intimidated into withdrawing his name from the appointment. President Donald Trump has consistently defended Kavanaugh.
Avenatti is the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose alleged a sexual relationship with Trump and a subsequent payoff to keep her from speaking publicly about the affair.
