A letter claims an attempt at aggression by a teenager Brett Kavanaugh

WASHINGTON – Secret Letter to High Democrats on Senate Judiciary Committee Charges Teenager Brett M. Kavanaugh and a Friend for Trapping Teenager in Room at Party and Attempted to Assault Him according to three familiar people. with the content of the letter.

According to the letter, Mr. Kavanaugh, a student at Georgetown Preparatory School in the Washington suburbs and now a candidate for President Trump's Supreme Court, had been drinking at a social gathering. The door was locked and she was thrown on the bed, the letter said. Mr. Kavanaugh then joined the teenager and put a hand on his mouth, according to the story.

But the young woman was able to get out and leave the room before there was anything else.

The woman considered the incident as an assault. She refused to be publicly identified and asked Senator Dianne Feinstein, the highest democrat on the Judiciary Committee, not to publish the letter.

The episode took place more than 30 years ago, when the three people involved were minors. The New York Times did not see the letter, but its content was described by the three people.

In a statement shared by the White House, Kavanaugh said the charges were false.

"I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation," he said. "I did not do it in high school or anytime."

On Friday morning, senators were still planning to follow up on Mr. Kavanaugh's confirmation. The Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a key vote to advance the nomination next Thursday, and Republican leaders hope to hold a final full Senate vote by the end of September to allow Mr. Kavanaugh to sit before the start of his term. the Supreme Court. quarter of autumn.

On Thursday, the White House almost accused the Democrats of playing dirt, of concealing mysterious information until the day before Mr. Kavanaugh's confirmation in a final effort to derail a candidate they have always opposed.

"Senator Schumer has promised to" oppose the appointment of Judge Kavanaugh with all that I have, "and it seems like this 11-hour attempt to delay his confirmation," said Kerri Kupec, spokesperson for the White House. Chuck Schumer. Assistants to Mr. Schumer said that he had not seen the letter.

The letter arrived at Capitol Hill in July, first at the office of California Democrat representative Anna Eshoo. Ms. Eshoo eventually shared it with Ms. Feinstein, who had held her content until Wednesday, when swirling rumors on Capitol Hill and in the media persuaded her to share her content – but not the letter herself – with other Senators Democrats Committee.

Several of these senators advised Ms. Feinstein to at least share the letter with the law enforcement authorities and, on Thursday, she announced in an enigmatic statement that she had sent "information about the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court ". authorities.

The F.B.I. did not open a criminal investigation into this case, but added the letter to Judge Kavanaugh's file. This updated file was shared with the White House on Thursday and then sent to Capitol Hill, where it will be kept in the office of Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

With speculation on the release of the contents of the letter, Mr. Grassley released Friday a different letter, sent to her and to Mrs. Feinstein and signed by 65 women who say they know Judge Kavanaugh in high school.