As we await the likely Senate confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, we should ask how we found ourselves in the position of possibly having an alleged sexual assaulter on the highest court.
Christine Blasey Ford has accused Kavanaugh of pinning her down to a bed and attempting to take off her clothes while they were both attending a party in Maryland in 1982.
Since Ford’s accusations against Kavanaugh became public, many supporters of Kavanaugh have argued that if Ford’s accusations are enough to stop Kavanaugh from getting confirmed, under such standards, no “good people” will be willing to serve in government.
As Congressman Steve King (R-IA) explained, “I’m thinking, is there any man that wouldn’t be subjected to such an allegation? Which means, if that’s the new standard, no man will ever qualify for the Supreme Court again.”
Similarly, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said after hearing Ford testify before the Judiciary Committee on which he sits, “This has never been about the truth, this has been about delay and destruction and if we reward this - it is the end of good people wanting to be judges.”
Echoing the remarks by Graham, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson said at the Values Voter Summit that people will be afraid to serve in government positions after Ford's allegations because, “they won't want to take the chance of their reputation being sullied."
Not surprisingly, Kavanaugh quickly adopted the argument of his supporters. In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kavanaugh wrote that the “smears” against him were a “threat” to anyone who wished to serve their country and if such “character assassination” is allowed succeeds it “will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from service.”
It is absolutely preposterous that the fear of sexual misconduct allegations will dissuade “good people” from wanting to serve in government. The vast majority of “good people,” including those at the highest levels of our government, never have sexual misconduct allegations brought against them.
The overwhelming majority of sexual assaults go unreported. Victims of sexual misconduct do not want to come forward for a variety of reason. When a victim of sexual misconduct comes forward, many times they lose their privacy and have their name dragged through the mud. In addition, victims fear possible professional consequences for coming forward and being identified solely by the harm done to them and not their intellect.
It is entirely possible to find “good people” willing to serve throughout government that do not have any sexual misconduct allegations against them. The vast majority of those on the Supreme Court and in Congress today have never had sexual misconduct allegations brought against them.
Furthermore, no one is entitled to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. If credible sexual misconduct allegations are brought against a nominee to the Supreme Court, that nominee should have the decency to step aside to allow someone else to be nominated.
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