Protesters outside the Supreme Court and inside the U.S. Capitol on Monday gathered to oppose the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Those outside Sen. Susan Collins' office called for her to vote no on Kavanaugh, who faces allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
Just blocks away, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed senators will vote on Kavanaugh's nomination soon.
"Up or down on the Senate floor. This fine nominee to the Supreme Court will receive a vote in this Senate in the near future," McConnell said.
Meanwhile, both Kavanaugh and one of his accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, addressed the sexual assault allegations in separate letters.
Kavanaugh, who wrote to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he "will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process." He also called the allegations against him "smears" and "obvious character assassination."
Ford's letter addressed to the chairman of that committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley, was dated from Saturday and became public Monday afternoon. She said, "While I am frightened, please know, my fear will not hold me back from testifying and you will be provided with answers to all of your questions."
Grassley replied in his own letter that both Ford and Kavanaugh "deserve a credible and fair process in a secure and professional setting."
Additional reporting by Newsy affiliate CNN.
