TIVERTON — A Tiverton man’s claim that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a friend on a boat on Newport Harbor years ago prompted impassioned denials Wednesday by the judge when confronted with the charge.

And no sooner had the matter made national news than Jeffrey Catalan of Tiverton withdrew the charge on his Twitter page, writing, “Do (sic) everyone who is going crazy about what I had said I have recanted because I have made a mistake and apologize for such mistake.”

Mr. Catalan did not elaborate on the nature of his “mistake.”

According to published reports, Mr. Catalan had contacted Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to say that he had met men named “Brett” and “Mark” on a boat in Newport in 1985 after those two had allegedly assaulted his friend. He also said he was hurt in a confrontation with the two men.

Before he issued his retraction, Mr. Kavanaugh was asked about this latest accusation in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee (Mr. Catalan’s name was blacked out).

Judge Cavanaugh denied any knowledge of the assault and denied even being in Newport at that time.

“We’re dealing with an anonymous letter about an anonymous person and an anonymous friend. It’s ridiculous. Total twilight zone. And no, I’ve never done anything like that.”

A Jeffrey Catalan is listed by White Pages as living in the Bourne Mill Apartments in North Tiverton. His identity could not be confirmed — there was no answer to the listed phone there.

On his Twitter account he described himself as a graphic artist, hippie, first responder, father, and grandfather.