PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Democratic U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to halt its confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after a woman came forward to allege he sexually assault her when they were teenagers.

The Washington Post on Sunday published an interview with Kavanaugh’s accuser , Christine Blasey Ford, who had previously made the allegation in a confidential letter. She also provided notes from a therapist that show Ford discussed the incident long before Kavanaugh’s nomination.

Kavanaugh has denied that he attacked Ford, and the White House said Sunday it stands by his denial.

Whitehouse, who serves on the committee and has been outspoken in opposing Kavanaugh, urged Republican Senate leaders to call off a confirmation vote scheduled for later this week.

“I admire the courage Ms. Ford has shown in coming forward with her story,” Whitehouse said. “This requires a pause, at a minimum, in the unseemly, special-interest-funded rush to put Brett Kavanaugh on the court.”

“Kavanaugh’s blanket denial cannot be reconciled with her specific recollections, and the FBI needs time to take proper witness statements,” he continued. “Lying to an FBI agent in a formal interview is a crime, and an impeachable offense.”

South Carolina U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham joined his fellow committee Republicans in questioning Ford’s accusation, but he also suggested the committee should consider hearing testimony from Ford, and if that is to happen, “it should be done immediately so the process can continue as scheduled.” Another Republican senator, Arizona’s Jeff Flake, said it should be postponed.

Whitehouse’s Republican opponent, former R.I. Supreme Court Justice Robert Flanders, disagreed.

“Uncorroborated allegations of uncharged and uncomplained of misconduct against a judge that supposedly occurred 35 years ago when he was a minor are not a sufficient basis to delay, much less derail his confirmation to the Supreme Court,” Flanders said in a statement.

Flanders also noted that Kavanaugh “has categorically denied that the alleged misconduct ever occurred, 65 women have come forward to verify that the judge has never mistreated them or other women, and the statute of limitations has long since run out on any criminal or civil claims that could possibly arise from such untimely and stale allegations.”

He criticized Whitehouse for failing to speak out about allegations of domestic abuse against Congressman Keith Ellison, the Democratic National Committee’s deputy chair, as well as when accusations first surfaced against former U.S. Sen. Al Franken. (Whitehouse’s campaign pointed out that the senator called on Franken to resign on Dec. 6 .)

“The only thing you can count on Senator Whitehouse to do is to play politics,” Flanders added. “Rhode Island needs a U.S. senator with a spine.”

Flanders later issued a second statement expanding on his comments.

“The last minute nature of these decade-old allegations raise real questions about what Sheldon Whitehouse knew and when he knew it, now that we know Democrats and reporters have had this information for some time,” he said. “I agree with Senator Graham that the committee should hear directly from the accuser so the public can know all the facts.”

Flanders’ remarks drew criticism from the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Women, which opposes Kavanaugh’s confirmation. The group argued Flanders “should be ashamed for suggesting that a credible sexual assault allegation against President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court is not even worthy of consideration.”

“Mr. Flanders shows callous disregard for a woman who says she was assaulted as a young teenage girl and has lived with that trauma for decades,” the group continued, arguing that he “owes an apology to every survivor who has bravely come forward.”

Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo issued a statement supporting Whitehouse’s position.

“I support Christine Ford’s courageous decision to come forward,” Raimondo said. “The U.S. Senate must not vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination until a thorough investigation is completed.”

“Here in Rhode Island, we must elect leaders in November who will protect our fundamental rights,” she continued. “I am the only candidate for governor who will protect women’s health care and work with advocates and the legislature to enshrine Roe v. Wade in state law.”

Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) covers politics and the economy for WPRI.com. He is a weekly panelist on Newsmakers and hosts Executive Suite. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook