Jonathan Chait updates his prediction that Julie Swetnick's allegations would spell doom for Kavanaugh

We wouldn’t have noticed New York Magazine writer Jonathan’s Chait first tweet if he hadn’t tweeted again how right-wing twitter was passing it around today with news of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. In any case, his first tweet didn’t age well:

Why Julie Swetnick's allegations spell doom for Brett Kavanaugh https://t.co/Sleemh2H03 pic.twitter.com/c3Qpxdp57c

— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) September 26, 2018

Julie Swetnick — you mean the client of celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti who claimed that Brett Kavanaugh never sexually assaulted her but she did see him standing near a punch bowl at a party, perhaps drugging it so he and his friends could gang-rape girls? That Julie Swetnick? If anything, she made the other allegations seem less credible.

Just for laughs, here’s a bit of the original piece:

After the first sexual-assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh by Christine Blasey Ford shocked Republicans, they woozily considered their options and appeared to begin edging away from their all-but-assured next Supreme Court justice. The second set of allegations, by Deborah Ramirez, paradoxically had the opposite effect. Seizing upon soft spots in her account, conservatives decided she was part of a vast smear campaign, and reacted so angrily against her accusations that they seemed to discount unrelated charges they had not doubted before.

The third set of allegations, by Julie Swetnick, seem much more likely to shock them back to their previous position. Swetnick charges that Kavanaugh, along with his ubiquitous wingman Mark Judge, systematically got girls drunk at a beach weekend and at least witnessed, and more likely participated in, a group rape.

Well I appreciate that you flat-out admitted you were wrong, I still disagree with your characterization. Kavanaugh's defense relied on the fact that he is an individual, not someone to just be lumped in with "a lot of men do terrible things to women, so he must be guilty."

— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) October 6, 2018

Much of the case against him amounted to "believe all women" and innuendo about what kind of person some people said he was in high school and college. There was very little actual factual evidence about what he did as an individual to specific women.

— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) October 6, 2018

This was evident in Lisa Murkowski's statement that she believed Kavanaugh was a "good man," but she was going to vote against him because the Supreme Court is larger than one individual.

— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) October 6, 2018

Wow. You are so full of predictions. When will the left learn that allegations=/=truth? Kavanaugh rallied the Republicans because he is innocent. His whole life bears truth to it. I sure can't wait to see how this "guilty by allegation" goes for the left once it becomes law.

— Dawn Ackley (@jenda45) October 6, 2018

No. He never lost our support because we all knew it was a set up and he never did any of the absurd things he was accused of. You libs thought we were weak and scared. Surprise. Our President has taught us to fight hard and fight smart! #BelieveJudgeK

— aglabarbera (@aglabarbera) October 6, 2018

Your follow-up is just as wrong-headed. He WAS a stand-in, true. But for justice to be served.

— Blair “Witch Hunt Hunter” McKee (@BlairDMckee) October 6, 2018

Nice double-down! At least you're owning it.

— Peace_Creep (@Peace_Creep) October 6, 2018

Pure and utter horse$hit.

— Loubo (@carlucci_lou) October 6, 2018

You followed up by spinning from the truth and ignoring that she and her lawyer are frauds who were lying. But pretend he rallied the troops. You were dead wrong twice.

— It's me DT (@dtfromdc) October 6, 2018

There were no “specifics” to the allegations. Literally none. Because it never happened. But please go on, you’re owning us so hard right now.

— Cuddle Shack (@CuddleShack) October 6, 2018

"I wasn't wrong! The goalpost was over here the whole time!"

— Brendan A (@reajin1) October 6, 2018

So presumably you're writing a followup column on the specifics and credibility of Swetnick and Avenatti's allegations that 15 year old Kavanaugh ran an operation gang raping college women?

— gringx (@NormieDeGuerre) October 6, 2018

You nailed it bro, Swetnick was the most credible accuser of all time, Avenatti is a genius. Stormy Daniels compared him favorably w/ Michaelangelo and I would tend to agree!

— 50-48 (@allidoisgetpaid) October 6, 2018

I wish I could make a bet, lose, then bet again.

— tweet n' twerk (@Lapo13) October 6, 2018

What a smug, progressive, elitist commentary. As if wanted to be presumed innocent in this country is somehow a bad thing. ?

— Respect (@Tweeterbird947) October 6, 2018

Impressive thing about you folks is you can be totally wrong and still be smug about pointing out that you found out eventually and actually admitted it.

— Some Guy (@JustHereToShare) October 6, 2018

When is the part where you admit this was a political hit job on Kavanaugh and that his accusers have no credibility?

— Butch Mailhot (@chubbyslowkid) October 6, 2018

Did you ever do a follow-up about how often your predictions are wrong and you excuse yourself out?

— Hutton Garrison (@ShaleMountain) October 6, 2018

Stop whining and just delete your account.

— Covfefe Jenkins?? (@Gnikme2) October 6, 2018

Delete your account.

— ??Grace Asher?? (@Grace_Asher1) October 6, 2018

Related:

More moving of goalposts: Sen. Cory Booker admits it’s not whether Kavanaugh’s innocent or guilty https://t.co/sVj7eDT0AG

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 2, 2018