During that divorce, Brown’s ex-wife, Larke Recchie, filed a restraining order against him after an incident in which she accused him of entering her house by shoving her to the side. An affidavit in the divorce reported that on numerous occasions, Brown “intimidated, pushed, shoved and bullied” her.

But Recchie put out a statement saying the use of their divorce records for a political campaign was “shameless” and “disgusting.”

“Anyone who suggests he is not an honorable man is just wrong,” she said.

Senate Republican candidate Jim Renacci said the “allegations against Brett Kavanaugh are serious and should be thoroughly examined, and by the same standard, anyone who calls on Kavanaugh to step aside based on these allegations must also call on Sherrod Brown to resign given the substantial evidence and affidavits detailing with Brown’s history of domestic violence.”

Brown’s divorce came up in his 2012 race against Treasurer Josh Mandel and in his 1992 race for the House of Representatives. In 2006 when Brown challenged then-Sen. Mike DeWine, the Brown campaign cut an ad featuring Recchie in an effort to defuse reports about the ugliness of their divorce, with Recchie defending him. They never had to air the ad; DeWine never brought up the allegations during the campaign.

Recchie and her husband Joe held fundraisers for Brown in 2006, 2012 and earlier this month, and she and Brown’s current wife, Connie Schultz, have posted pictures on social media of the Recchies and the Brown-Schultz families together with their grandchildren.

MeTooOhio, whose spokeswoman Alice Stewart lives in Virginia, named state Rep. Christina Hagan, R-Marlboro Township, as its executive director. Hagan, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, lost a Republican congressional primary in Northeast Ohio last May to former Ohio State wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

Last week, Republican Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor called on Brown to resign and this weekend, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken said Brown “has never had to answer questions about his court documented domestic abuse.”

But in fact, the Dispatch asked Brown about the incidents in 1989. “I have done nothing wrong,” he said back then, adding “I’ve never hurt her. I’ve never touched her. I never harassed her on the phone.”

Said Recchie in 1992: “There was a lot of hurt on both sides, and it led only to angry words.”

President Trump says ‘a little delay’ may be needed

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday afternoon that “a little delay” may be needed on the upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee vote.

However, Trump predicted that the judge’s nomination will “work out very well.”

Trump said he wants a “full process” to investigate the allegations, but he also said the nomination was “very much on track.” The president praised Kavanaugh as one of the finest people he’s known, and he called a question about whether Kavanaugh should withdraw “ridiculous.”

Across multiple morning shows on Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway pushed for Ford to be allowed to testify before lawmakers.

“She should not be insulted. She should not be ignored. She should testify under oath, and she should do it on Capitol Hill,” Conway said.

Trump did not say whether he thought Ford should appear before lawmakers. Conway said that decision was up to the Judiciary Committee.

Where does the Senate math stand?

Which way Kavanaugh’s nomination goes — to the high court or down in defeat — is all about the math of votes in the 100-member Senate. The party split goes like this: 51 Republicans, 47 Democrats, and 2 independents, both of whom caucus with the Democrats. So two Republican votes against Kavanaugh’s confirmation would derail it. Vice President Mike Pence could break a 50-50 tie.

More than two Republican senators have not committed to voting yes. Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a member of the Judiciary Committee, says he is not comfortable holding a vote until Ford’s allegations are heard. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who also is retiring, is not on the panel but said the vote should be postponed until the committee has heard from Ford.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, says she wants both Ford and Kavanaugh to testify to the Judiciary Committee under oath.

Like Collins, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says she has questions about the allegation. Both Collins and Murkowski are considered potential swing votes on Kavanaugh’s nomination.

Laurie Kellman of the Associated Press contributed to this report

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Dayton hosting first governor debate

Questions: What questions do you have for the governor candidates? Send them to us on our Ohio Politics Facebook page or email them to votersguide@coxinc.com

How to watch: You can watch the Sept. 19 debate with Mike DeWine and Richard Cordray live at 7 p.m. on WHIO-TV Channel 7. You can also stream it on our newspaper web site.

Listen live: Listen to the debate on AM 1290 and News 95.7 WHIO then stick around for a live post-debate show starting at 8 p.m.

Post debate recap: Watch a special debate post-show on WHIO.com and DaytonDailyNews.com Sept. 19 starting at 8 p.m.

In the paper: Each day this week we will take a look at where DeWine and Cordray stand on the issues that matter to you.

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