Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court has been thrown into jeopardy over the past few days after allegations of sexual assault were leveled against him.
Politicians from both sides of the aisle have called for the vote on whether or not Kavanaugh should take up a place on the highest bench in the land to be delayed while the allegations are investigated.
The accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, told the Washington Post that Kavanaugh was 17-years-of-age and heavily intoxicated when he allegedly “pinned her to a bed” and groped her over her clothes. When she protested, Kavanaugh supposedly held his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming.
“I thought he might inadvertently kill me,” said Ford, who is now a 51-year-old research psychologist in northern California. “He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing.”
Ford also handed over notes on the incident which were alleged to have been taken by her therapist when she revealed disclosed details of the incident back in 2012. There are discrepancies, however, as the notes indicate that four boys were involved in the alleged assault, something which Ford says was an error on the part of the therapist.
Kavanaugh, who has gone through a rigorous series of confirmation hearings which dogged by the cries of numerous protesters, vehemently denied the accusations Monday.
“This is a completely false allegation,” he said at the White House earlier. “I have never done anything like what the accuser describes—to her or to anyone. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday. I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.”
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski suggested that the allegations should be looked into before a vote of such magnitude can be taken.
“I think that might be something they might have to consider, at least having that discussion. This is not something that came up during the hearings,” the Alaskan senator said, as reported by CNN. “The hearings are now over, and if there is real substance to this, it demands a response. That may be something the committee needs to look into.”
Other key figures in the conservative realm have seen the timing of this allegation as an overtly strategic move to oust Kavanaugh from the Supreme Court. Leading Republican voice Candace Owens called the #MeToo movement a “Democratic slush fund” that is used to smear conservative politicians. “It is time for Americans to send a STRONG message to the anarchist Democrats that we will no longer tolerate their disgusting, corrupt, low-bar antics,” she tweeted.
Nothing to see here, folks! Just another woman who conveniently tripped and fell out of amnesia, thereby remembering her 40 year old sexual assault executed by a man who just so happens to be a conservative on the brink of gaining political power. https://t.co/kZ5ytnGeHq
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) September 16, 2018
Leading conservative commentator Erick Erickson took a similar view, noting that Kavanaugh has been “judged” based on a “single 35-year-old accusation” because his opponents “want to keep killing kids.”
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/1041725043640819712
But others sought to contest the conclusion that these allegations are being lodged solely for political character assassination. Rachael Denhollander, the young Christian woman who gave that staggeringly honest and brave impact statement at the trial of former USA gymnastics physician, Larry Nassar, urged caution against saying the alleged victim should have disclosed the accusations sooner.
When I wrote to @indystar:
I didn't think I could file a police report
Waited 16 yrs
Had my dr's notes showing prior disclosures as my main evidence, despite errors
He was running for officeIf my alleged abuser was named Kavanaugh, not Nassar, what would you have said to me?
— Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) September 17, 2018
“Why’d you wait so long?” Denhollander asked on Twitter. “Here’s a big part of why: Because for years I watched family and friends eviscerate sexual assault victims who spoke up against a candidate, team, pastor, ministry or local friend they liked, and I got the message loud and clear.”
“Conservatives, you want to be the party of family values?” Denhollander continued. “You want to be pro-woman and pro-child? Then start by taking claims of sexual assault seriously instead of using poor logic, straw men and ad hominems to avoid the issue. Otherwise, you are part of the cultural problem.”
1 "Why'd you wait so long?" Here's a big part of why:
Because for years I watched family and friends eviscerate sexual assault victims who spoke up against a candidate, team, pastor, ministry or local friend they liked, and I got the message loud and clear.
— Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) September 17, 2018
Denhollander said she was asserting all this “as a conservative evangelical (in case anyone has missed that).”
“Why? Because those closest to the abuse and enabling are the only ones able to change things. What you do when it’s in your own community is what makes the difference.”
The vote to confirm Kavanaugh is due to take place in the Senate Judiciary Committee this Thursday.