US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has dismissed a third woman’s accusation against him of misconduct as “ridiculous”.
The new claim, which is being investigated by the Senate, alleges Judge Kavanaugh committed serious sexual assault in high school.
In a statement, the judge said he did not know the accuser, Julie Swetnick, and her allegations “never happened”.
He is set to testify on Thursday over other sexual misconduct claims.
In a sworn affidavit, Ms Swetnick alleged that Judge Kavanaugh was involved in the drugging and sexual assault of girls at house parties in the 1980s.
She says she was the victim of a gang rape in 1982 at a party attended by the judge.
Ms Swetnick is represented by lawyer Michael Avenatti, who has declared his ambition to run for president as a Democrat in 2020.
His most famous client is porn actress Stormy Daniels, who says she had an affair with President Donald Trump.
