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Allegations of sexual assault have upset Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh's confirmation process for the Supreme Court.
At the time when Christine Blasey Ford, a psychologist from northern California, introduced herself as the woman who leaked the charges in a secret letter, Republican and Democrat senators are even more divided over the appointment of Judge Kavanaugh.
Readers have weighed on allegations in thousands of comments on our newspaper articles. Here are some of their answers, slightly modified and condensed.
"Who is the most likely to lie?
Who is most likely to lie: Dr. Blasey or Judge Kavanaugh? Obviously he does. He wants to be in the Supreme Court. Her accuser has no reason to lie and, in fact, she would have been better if she was silent. The right idea that she "just wanted to attract attention" is ridiculous when all the attention is bad and that Dr. Blasey has no reason to be so desperate .
– Judith S. Lewis, Norman, Okla.
I believed Anita Hill at the time and now. Similarly, Dr. Blasey, who has already passed a test of detection of lies. Judge Kavanaugh should also be required to pass this test.
– Eric Mills, Oakland, California.
Because I am a university researcher, I was able to download and browse some scientific articles from the accuser. I was trying to find out if she is a self-promoter, or something other than looking at the data and reporting her findings in an honest way. For me, she seems solid and direct and she is also very successful. All I can see is that she had no reason to come forward other than a sense of obligation to put this on the public record, even at a high personal cost.
– Eric Jakobsson, Professor Emeritus, Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois
I believe Judges Kavanaugh and Blasey.
Through the drunken haze and three decades of interposed living, there will surely be significant differences in each witness statement. There would be differences, insinuations, etc., even the day after this presumed event.
"If he did that, he was only a teenager"
I do not understand why it is a problem, given that Judge Kavanaugh was a child when this allegation occurred. They were both teenagers in high school. If it had been tried in court, he would be gone and the records would be sealed because of his age. I am a liberal woman, but I think it's a witch hunt for Democrats.
More important than what Judge Kavanaugh really did as a teenager is whether he is mentally or not, as an adult man and judge. His current actions are what would make him unfit for the bench.
– Fern
Some have already defended Judge Kavanaugh saying that while he was doing this, he was only a teenager and had the right to make a mistake.
My touchstone is my 20 year old son. When I ask myself if he would, the answer is easy: never in a million years. He was disgusted. If Judge Kavanaugh did not have a moral compass at the age of 17, he does not have one now.
– Scot Stelter, Seattle
"I was assaulted by a drunk teenager"
I was assaulted by a drunk teenager in college. Like Dr. Blasey, I managed to escape just before penetration.
This young man graduated from an Ivy League college and eventually became a respected attorney and mediation specialist in the Washington area. He has an adult daughter.
I can not say that I think my experience with him disqualifies him from the public service. But if there was a way to sit down with him and discuss how much his behavior has negatively affected for years, I'd like to do it. I just want to tell him what he's done and watch him listen and think.
– Julie Zuckman, Northampton, Mass.
"What extraordinarily debatable timing"
It's difficult, but I do not think the allegation is accepted. It was way too long. The witnesses will not remember. There can be no corroborating evidence and no alibi. Nothing tangible to weigh.
It is really unfair to put someone, even if the allegation is true.
Justice and due process could only have been applied if she had made allegations several decades ago, in which case he might have been convicted of something and "paid his debt to society" so to speak. Instead, we have this wild card played exactly at the moment of its greatest potential success, with all the political stakes. What extraordinarily debatable timing.
– "Mmm", New York
What Dr. Blasey describes is close to what happened to me decades ago when I was 15 years old. I acted exactly as she did – I did not talk to my parents, If my abuser (a "nice boy" from the neighborhood) was later appointed to the Supreme Court, I can easily see the dilemma in which Dr. Blasey was. With the parody of Anita Hill as a backdrop, a self-described sex predator in the White House, a sea of privileged old men in the Senate and media ready to slap and denigrate, why attack? to these abuses? That Dr. Blasey has decided to come forward is an act of patriotism and courage.
– Julie Bannerman, San Francisco
"My heart still suffers for Anita Hill"
Did we learn anything from watching Anita Hill testify almost three decades ago? I remember watching in horror and I also remember that almost no one I knew in Shaker Heights, Ohio, progressive and progressive, believed it!
Please tell me we will not repeat the story. My heart still suffers for Anita Hill when I think of the injustice that has been done to her, to our country and to women around the world. Women have been left out for far too long and that must stop. An appointment to the Supreme Court – a unique opportunity to shape the fate of American women for decades – must not be conducted in a hurry, but in a thorough and deliberate way to guarantee the life, liberty and happiness of all . Not just for white men.
– Ursula Weeks, Shaker Heights, Ohio
These allegations should not be re-audited because there is no possible – and substantial – harm that may result from such hearings.
Comparisons with Justice Clarence Thomas' confirmation process are inappropriate. Ms. Hill's charges in 1991 involved multiple suspected episodes occurring less than 10 years earlier between adults. The current situation concerns a single alleged episode that occurred almost 40 years ago, involving three teenagers who had all been drinking. The truth is unknowable today, and holding an audience can not bring any light. On the contrary, it will provide a forum for the worst kinds of toxic policies.
Dr. Blasey probably does not lie, but even she can not really know what happened 40 years ago.
– Alex, Indiana
"This man was sentenced by the court of public opinion"
I'm not a fan of Judge Kavanaugh's appointment, but what happened to due process? This man was sentenced by the court of public opinion.
As a 50-year-old woman, I know that memories of youth experiences – especially early sexual experiences – can evolve over time in our minds. I am not saying that this happened in this case, but no one can knowingly claim that it is not the case (other than the other man). Perhaps this is the reason why there is a limitation period for most crimes? Kavanaugh has been a public figure for a long time and you have to wonder why now?
Should not we all breathe deeply and think about how we would like our sons – and future nominees for public office and nominations with whom we agree – to be treated?
– "Frisbee"
Who has not done something that he is not proud of? It should not be a death sentence for our aspirations to help others.
Who was not accused of doing something that they did not do, but could not prove that it was a lie?
The way we examine candidates for the public service today would eliminate most, if not all, well-intentioned and qualified candidates.
I do not know how anyone can accuse anyone of something that tried to happen 30 years ago without any proof. I am very tired of #MeToo accusations accusing me without proof. I am a woman and I saw her in both directions. Children sometimes use very bad judgment. I'm sorry, but that does not convince me that this man is not a good choice for the Supreme Court.
– Ma, Atlanta
"Feinstein did what she had to do"
Senator Dianne Feinstein did what she had to do to protect the anonymity of the victim until she was willing to testify. Compared to what Senator Mitch McConnell did in stealing a seat of President Obama's Supreme Court for a year, it's nothing.
– Tim Lubina, Emeryville, California.
#MeToo is the new McCarthyism. You can now simply accuse someone that you do not like sexual assault and watch his life be destroyed. Defending anyone accused of aggression means that you are now suspect and that you will soon defend yourself against a charge.
The cynical treatment of the charge against Judge Kavanaugh (which he held until the last minute) is totally indefensible and showed that Democrats now consider sexual assault charges as a political tool, such as negative ads . At the end of the day, it hurts millions of people who have legitimate claims, all to slow down slightly the appointment of a Supreme Court justice they do not like.
– Troy, California
Marie Tae McDermott contributed to the research.
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