The top Yale professor accused of telling students that it is ‘no accident’ Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s female clerks all ‘look like models’ has denied claims she groomed them in a statement to the Ivy League school’s law community.
Amy Chua, 55, author of the 2011 controversial parenting book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, says what was alleged by multiple former students is ‘100 percent false’ and ‘outrageous’.
She hit back in an email on Saturday clarifying that although she did advise on dress code, it was to both genders.
Amy Chua, 55, (pictured 2016) called claims she groomed Brett Kavanaugh’s female clerks ‘100 percent false’ and ‘outrageous’
Chua (pictured 2011) says she told those interviewing to avoid ‘inappropriate clothing’ but not to dress ‘too casually’ when meeting Kavanaugh
Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her and tried to rip off her swimsuit at a party when she was 15 have left him fighting for his Supreme Court nomination
NBC News reports Chua says she told ‘students, male and female, to dress professionally — not too casually — and to avoid inappropriate clothing. I remind them that they are interviewing with a member of the judiciary.’
Chua – who publicly supported Trump’s Supreme Court pick as a ‘mentor to women’ in July – added that she told students to focus on the academic side of things rather than physical appearance.
‘I always tell students to prep insanely hard — that substance is the most important thing,’ she wrote. ‘I advise them to read every opinion, including dissents, the judge has ever written as well as important recent cases from the circuit and Supreme Court.’
Chua (left) author of the 2011 controversial parenting book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother allegedly advised female students what to wear as well and her husband Professor Jed Rubenfeld, (right) said the judge only hires woman with a ‘certain look’
Former students came forward to The Guardian and Huffington Post, saying Chua would advise female students on how to look and to dress ‘outgoing’ for their interview with Kavanaugh in the hopes of working for him as a law clerk.
These latest allegations come one week after an allegation against Kavanaugh surfaced by Christine Blasey Ford claiming the judge forcibly held her down and groped her in high school. Kavanaugh denies these allegations.
Multiple unnamed students allege Chua would suggest they send her photos of what they were going to wear to interviews with Kavanaugh
Former students, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told the Guardian Chua’s husband Professor Jed Rubenfeld, also provided unsettling advice to law hopefuls.
‘He told me, ”You should know that Judge Kavanaugh hires women with a certain look,” one woman said. ‘He did not say what the look was and I did not ask.’
The same student said Chua suggested she send her photos of outfit options and said she should dress in an ‘outgoing’ way for the interview with the judge.
‘She advised me to be and dress ”outgoing,”’ the Yale alum said. ‘She strongly urged me to send her pictures of what I was thinking of wearing so she could evaluate. I did not.’
It was last year at an informal catch up, that Chua allegedly told students it was ‘no accident’ that Kavanaugh’s female clerks all ‘look like models’.
The student said they pointed out that Chua’s own daughter is a clerk for Kavanaugh.
However, the source said Chua shot down any assumptions her daughter would be subjected to inappropriate behavior.
One student told the Huffington Post that she had ‘mixed feelings’ regarding the advice from Chua.
‘On the one hand, it’s a yellow flag; on the other hand, phew, I hadn’t heard anything else,’ she said.
A student said it’s possible the couple were giving suggestions based off of observations of Kavanaugh and not direct orders.
‘I have no reason to believe he was saying, ”Send me the pretty ones”, but rather that he was reporting back and saying, ”I really like so and so,” and the way he described them led them to form certain conclusions,’ the woman said.
Chua has canceled all of her Yale courses this year and is reportedly in the hospital with an undisclosed illness.
In an emailed statement to the Guardian, Chua wrote: ‘For the more than 10 years I’ve known him, Judge Kavanaugh’s first and only litmus test in hiring has been excellence. He hires only the most qualified clerks, and they have been diverse as well as exceptionally talented and capable.’
Her husband is reportedly being investigated by Yale University – however the university has neither confirmed or denied the investigation.
A Yale official said: ‘I can assure you that we take allegations of faculty misconduct very seriously.’