The allegations were made by Christine Blasey Ford, a university professor who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in 1982.

After two key Republicans boosted the judge’s chances of a nomination by expressing satisfaction with the scope and findings of an FBI report into the claims, activists gathered outside the Hart Senate Office building on Capitol Hill to call on Susan Collins, a key Republican senator, to vote against Mr Kavanaugh.

Supermodel and actress Emily Ratajkowski was pictured alongside fellow actress and comedian Amy Schumer and carrying a sign reading "Respect Female Existence or Expect our Resistance".

She took to Twitter to announce she had been arrested at the protest.

Today I was arrested protesting the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, a man who has been accused by multiple women of sexual assault. Men who hurt women can no longer be placed in positions of power. pic.twitter.com/nnwq1O4qk3

— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) October 4, 2018

Schumer was also pictured being detained by police, with a video featuring police asking her "Do you want to be arrested?" to which she responds "yes".

Schumer has been active on social media in voicing her opposition to the nominee and urging the public to voice their opposition.

The protest comes days after Trump publicly mocked Ford at a rally in Mississippi which fellow Republican party members deemed"vile" and "appalling".

Capitol Police said they arrested 302 people during the demonstration.

A procedural vote on Mr. Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court is set for Friday, with a confirmation vote expected the following day.