Kavanaugh’s supreme court confirmation is in doubt after two women accused him of sexual misconduct. A third woman is expected to go public this week

The confirmation process for Donald Trump’s supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been thrown into turmoil by allegations of sexual misconduct when he was a teenager. Here’s what we know so far about the allegations, and their possible ramifications.

What is Kavanaugh accused of?

Christine Blasey Ford, 51, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University, was the first woman to come forward. She says that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the 1980s when they were both teenagers. She said in an interview with the Washington Post that at a party in Montgomery county, Maryland, Kavanaugh led her into a bedroom, pinned her to the bed and groped her, attempting to remove the bathing suit she was wearing and putting his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming before she was able to escape.

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On Sunday, the New Yorker published an interview with Deborah Ramirez, 53, who accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself at a drunken dormitory party when he was a freshman at Yale. Ramirez claims Kavanaugh “thrust his penis in her face, and caused her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away”. She has called for the FBI to investigate.

A third woman is being represented by Michael Avenatti, who made his name as the lawyer for the porn actor Stormy Daniels. Avenatti told the Guardian his client would go public with her allegations this week.

He has also said he was aware of significant evidence of Kavanaugh and his school friend Mark Judge, participating in “the targeting of women” with alcohol or drugs at house parties in the Washington DC-area in the early 1980s “in order to allow a ‘train’ of men to gang rape them”.

What has Kavanaugh said?

The embattled US supreme court nominee went on a media offensive on Monday night, insisting in a TV interview with Fox News that he was a virgin throughout high school and beyond and that “I have never sexually assaulted anyone in high school or otherwise”.

Play Video 1:12 'I have never sexually assaulted anyone': Brett Kavanaugh denies allegations on Fox News – video

Portraying himself as a lifelong campaigner for women’s equality, Kavanaugh sat beside his wife, Ashley Estes Kavanaugh – her first appearance since the allegations surfaced – and denied the accusations that have been leveled against him by the two named women, as well as the third woman, whose identity and detailed claims remained elusive.

Why have the allegations come up now?

Ford said she sought to tell her story in confidence to give senators a “fuller understanding” of Kavanaugh’s character and history as they vetted him for a seat on America’s highest court.

If confirmed, Kavanaugh – who is considered an ultra-conservative judge – could hold a seat on the bench for decades, and would swing the balance of the court towards the right.

Ramirez said she was reluctant to share her story, in part because her memory of the incident was not entirely clear. But she said she was motivated to come forward in the wake of Ford’s allegation and hoped her story would support that of Ford’s and describe a pattern of behavior in Kavanaugh’s past.

According to the New Yorker, the offices of at least two Democratic senators have begun investigating Ramirez’s allegation; senior Republican staffers were also made aware of the information last week.

Where does Trump stand?

Trump has vigorously defended his supreme court nominee, saying he felt “terribly” for the judge. “I feel so badly for him. This is not a man who deserves this,” he said at a news conference at the White House last week. He said Ford should have the opportunity to “state her case”, but has cast doubt on her allegations, and claimed the allegations are part an orchestrated attempt to bring down Kavanaugh’s candidacy.

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) The Democrats are working hard to destroy a wonderful man, and a man who has the potential to be one of our greatest Supreme Court Justices ever, with an array of False Accusations the likes of which have never been seen before!

The White House dismissed Ramirez’s account as part of “a coordinated smear campaign” by Democrats.

Is Kavanaugh’s nomination in trouble?

The allegations have roiled the confirmation process in its final stage, unexpectedly imperilling his nomination.

Under pressure from a bipartisan group of senators, GOP leaders delayed a judiciary committee vote on the nomination, originally scheduled for last week, in order to allow for a hearing on the assault allegations.

That fresh hearing is now set to go ahead on Thursday, with both Kavanaugh and Ford expected to testify.

Republicans and Trump have increasingly rallied around Kavanaugh, insisting they will move forward with the confirmation process despite calls to delay Thursday’s hearing.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Demonstrators protest against Brett Kavanaugh outside the supreme court. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Images

Who will testify before the Senate?

Lawyers for Ford said she has agreed to testify at a public hearing before the judiciary committee on Thursday.

“Despite actual threats to her safety and her life, Dr Ford believes it is important for senators to hear directly from her about the sexual assault committed against her,” a statement from her attorneys read.

Kavanaugh is expected to testify immediately after Ford.

On Tuesday, the White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, said it “would be open” to Ramirez testifying on Thursday. Avenatti has said his client has also asked to testify.

The committee is not, however, expected to subpoena Judge, who Ford said was in the room when her encounter with Kavanaugh took place. Ford’s legal team expressed dissatisfaction at the exclusion of those “who are essential for a fair hearing that arrives at the truth about the sexual assault”. Judge has denied having memory of the incident and said he does not wish to testify.