The national firestorm surrounding U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh spilled over into Ocean City this week when a new accuser came forward and alluded to the nominee’s alleged illicit activity in the resort during “beach week” in the early 1980s.
Over the last month, the firestorm surrounding President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has reached a crescendo after a woman accused the nominee of illicit behavior during his formative years including overindulgence in alcohol and sexual misconduct. While the claims are largely unsubstantiated and believed to be politically motivated, they threaten to derail Kavanaugh’s appointment process to the Supreme Court.
For his part, Kavanaugh has categorically denied the claims and has dismissed any notion he should drop out of the Supreme Court nominating process under increased pressure to do so.
On Wednesday, the largely national debate spilled over to Ocean City when yet another accuser came forward with allegations she witnessed Kavanaugh in high school engaging in sexual misconduct. The third woman, identified as Julie Swetnick, 55, of Washington, D.C., also alleged Kavanaugh was present when she was gang-raped during high school.
Swetnick, a Washington insider judging by her resume, went to Gaithersburg High School in the D.C. suburbs around the same time Kavanaugh was a high school student at Georgetown Prep. In a sworn statement released by her attorney Michael Avenatti on Wedensday, Swetnick alleged some of Kavanaugh’s alleged sexual misconduct occurred during senior week in Ocean City during the early 1980s.
‘I have been told by other women that this conduct also occurred during the summer months in Ocean City, Maryland on numerous occasions,” the statement reads. “I also witnessed such conduct on one occasion in Ocean City, Maryland during ‘Beach Week.’”
Calendars curiously kept for decades at least appear to place the embattled Supreme Court nominee in Ocean City during the traditional beach week, or June Bug week, during early June of 1982. Kavanaugh’s calendar from June 1982 shows “Beach Week” written in bold letters across the week spanning from June 6-11 that year.
Ocean City Police Department spokesperson Lindsay Richard said on Wednesday her office had received numerous calls attempting to confirm the latest allegations, but there is no mention of Kavanaugh anywhere in the department’s records, which go back 15 years.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Is anyone else sick and tired of the political signs? I know I sure am, but my objection has nothing to do with the visual blight.
I have noticed something different with the election cycle this year. In many cases, candidates squaring off against each other have signs on the same piece of property. It’s clear in some cases where smaller signs are noticeable supporters are simply seeing a campaign sign for an opponent and placing a sign for their own candidate next to it or even in front of it. You can see these on Routes 50 and 90. There’s no permission being sought, most likely from either candidate.
There was a time, especially in Ocean City during council races, when signs would appear on properties owned by supporters. It was actually a decent gauge to see the candidates were stacking up against each other. I think that rule is out these days.
Being my nosey self, I asked a local convenience store manager the other day why there were so many signs in front of his business. He said, “some of them asked and I said sure.” He did make it clear not everyone had asked permission as the number of signs seemingly grows every day.
After speaking with this man, I left with the conclusion he simply doesn’t want to offend anyone and jeopardize any lost sales. Therefore, he just lets everyone put signs up rather than take a stand and alienate anyone. It seems so silly, but maybe that’s just me.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
In most Maryland counties, you cannot buy beer and wine in grocery stores. It appears Comptroller Peter Franchot, who will likely to cruise to re-election in November, could be trying to change that.
On his Facebook page this week, Franchot pointed out an editorial in the Frederick News-Post that he agreed with. The editorial read, “The [liquor] board must basically decide whether its first responsibility is to the businesses that it regulates, or to the consumers who want to buy the alcoholic beverages. We believe the correct answer is that its first responsibility is to the county’s consumers… The proposed change would put pressure on beverage store owners, requiring them to compete more vigorously with grocery stores. They might want to offer wider selection, better prices, faster service or more expertise.”
On his social media page, Franchot, wrote, “I happen to agree. Consumer choice. Market competition. Capitalism. It’s worked everywhere else and I believe it would work here. I believe it’s time we allow beer and wine to be sold in grocery stores throughout Maryland.”
This will be one to follow next year.
