United States President Donald Trump has questioned why it took Professor Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, so long to come forward as, “if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed.”
Speaking to The Washington Post, Ford alleges that in the 1980s Kavanaugh and Mark Judge, both drunk, “corralled her into a bedroom”. Kavanaugh allegedly pinned her to a bed, groped her, and attempted to remove her clothing while Judge watched.
Ford says she escaped when Judge “jumped on top of them, sending all three tumbling.”
In a statement to The Post Kavanaugh denied the allegation and gave no further comment: “I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time.”
As Ford’s lawyers negotiated to give the professor more time to decide on a possible testimony, Trump published a series of tweets.
“I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!”
I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2018
Earlier, Trump defended Kavanaugh’s character describing him as a “fine man with an impeccable reputation, who is under assault by radical left wing politicians.”
Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a fine man, with an impeccable reputation, who is under assault by radical left wing politicians who don’t want to know the answers, they just want to destroy and delay. Facts don’t matter. I go through this with them every single day in D.C.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2018
The radical left lawyers want the FBI to get involved NOW. Why didn’t someone call the FBI 36 years ago?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2018
The tweets immediately sparked the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport where thousands of women and men shared their experiences of sexual assault and sexual abuse.
I hope it’s not inappropriate for me to chime in, as a male, but I was 8 and he was the “cool guy” in the neighborhood. I didn’t tell anyone until I was 17. Also, guys can’t be sexually assaulted #WhyIDidntReport
— Andy McNeese (@Airlacher) September 22, 2018
Riverdale star Lili Reinhart wrote: “Because I didn’t want to lose my job or make people think I was a drama queen.”
Because I didn’t want to lose my job or make people think I was a drama queen. #WhyIDidntReport
— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) September 21, 2018
Ashley Judd, a leading voice in the Time’s Up Movement and one of the first women to publicly come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, wrote about a time when she was just seven-years-old.
#WhyIDidntReport. The first time it happened, I was 7. I told the first adults I came upon. They said “Oh, he’s a nice old man, that’s not what he meant.” So when I was raped at 15, I only told my diary. When an adult read it, she accused me of having sex with an adult man.
— ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) September 21, 2018
I tried to report
Was told 10 times the penalty for filing a false report
Was asked what I was wearing
Was asked if I was drunk
Was asked why I didn’t scream
Was asked if I didn’t just regret having sex because the officer knew “how promiscuous the gays are”#WhyIDidntReport
— can u not (@_michaelmay_) September 22, 2018
I was scared, I thought admitting i was raped would make me less of a man #WhyIDidntReport
— C.A Fairchild (@CAFairchild2) September 22, 2018
He lived in my house.#whyididntreport
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) September 22, 2018
Because I was four.
Because I didn’t know I had a choice.
Because I thought it was what big boys did.
Because I didn’t want to be viewed as a victim.
Because I didn’t know what sex was.
Because I didn’t want it to define my sexuality.
Because I felt shame.#WhyIDidntReport— Fusedtwilight (@Fusedtwilight) September 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/cheekymare62/status/1043328792452898817
#WhyIDidntReport
Because I was 8
Because I was afraid he would hurt me
Because no one would believe me
Because he was my brother
(There … I said it)— Penny Dier (@PennyDear9) September 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/give_me_coffee_/status/1043318866737213440
In support, Crazy Rich Asians actor Gemma Chan tweeted: “If you are still unsure why women and men who’ve been abused might not speak up please take a moment to read #WhyIDidntReport. The culture of victim blaming has to end.”
If you are still unsure why women and men who’ve been abused might not speak up please take a moment to read #WhyIDidntReport.
The culture of victim blaming has to end.
— Gemma Chan (@gemma_chan) September 22, 2018
This article discusses sexual assault and sexual abuse. If you would like to talk to a counsellor about sexual assault, sexual abuse or domestic violence, please contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
