A “Fair Process” — According to Brett Kavanaugh and Senate Republican Leaders

President Trump isn’t interested in justice for survivors. Instead of demanding respect and justice for the women who have bravely shared allegations of sexual violence against Brett Kavanaugh, Trump is labeling them liars. He characterized the women’s horrifying allegations as the “single most unfair, unjust things to happen to a candidate for anything."

In truth, false allegations of sexual assault are exceedingly rare. The extreme hostility, distrust, and even death threats faced by Dr. Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez make it clear that survivors have little to gain — and much to lose — by coming forward. Yet Trump, Senate Republicans, and Kavanaugh himself are painting Kavanaugh as a victim in an unfair system — all while dismissing survivors and scrambling to rush Kavanaugh’s confirmation process.

Let’s dig into the fairness of the process so far.

September 28: The Senate Judiciary Committee votes to move Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Senate floor

Survivors, women, and people around the country pleaded with senators to stop Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination, but Senate Republicans ignored Dr. Blasey Ford’s voice and proceeded with the confirmation process.

There is a cloud over Kavanaugh’s nomination. We already knew Kavanaugh shouldn’t be confirmed to the Supreme Court, but this is a moment of reckoning for the Senate. If senators and the White House continue to push Kavanaugh’s nomination forward, they threaten the integrity of the Supreme Court.

September 27: A prosecutor — appointed by Republican leaders — cross-examines Dr. Blasey Ford for hours while Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members sympathize with Kavanaugh

Dr. Blasey Ford was not on trial. But Dr. Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh didn't face the same line of questioning during this hearing. The Senate Judiciary Committee structured the hearing to Kavanaugh’s advantage — and that's far from a fair process.

September 25: Sen. Grassley moves forward with confirmation process, despite Julie Swetnick’s allegation of sexual violence (trigger warning) against Kavanaugh

Even after multiple women have come forward with disturbing allegations of sexual violence against Kavanaugh, Republican senators have been relentless in rushing their nominee through. The allegations are violent, abusive, and criminal — and should be immediately disqualifying for anyone who wants to sit on our nation's highest court.

September 24: Brett Kavanaugh appears on Fox News and demands a “fair process” — 17 times

Make no mistake: Republican leaders have had Kavanaugh’s back. From day 1, Republican leaders have been determined to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court — regardless of his record of ruling against our health and rights, or our lack of information about his time in the Bush White House.  

September 23: Dr. Blasey Ford agrees to testify and Deborah Ramirez comes forward with a second allegation of sexual violence against Kavanaugh

Instead of seeking additional information when Deborah Ramirez’s allegations became known to the Committee, Chairman Grassley tried to accelerate the confirmation process and silence her voice.

September 17-22: In an attempt to rush Kavanaugh’s confirmation process, Sen. Grassley ignores Dr. Blasey Ford’s request for an FBI investigation and instead invokes multiple arbitrary deadlines

During the 1991 hearings centering Anita Hill’s sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas, Sen. Orrin Hatch praised then-Sen. Joe Biden’s decision to order an FBI investigation into her allegations — saying it was the “very right thing to do.” In 2018, Senate Republicans have switched gears and shamelessly attempted to undercut Dr. Blasey Ford’s story:

• Sen. John Cornyn referred to Dr. Blasey Ford’s allegation as “drive-by attack.”

• Sen. Orrin Hatch said Dr. Blasey Ford was “mixed up” and “mistaken.”

• Sen. Mitch McConnell claimed this was simply a Democrat-led attempt to delay Kavanaugh’s confirmation and promised to “plow through” the allegations.

• Sen. Dean Heller dismissed the allegation as a “hiccup” in the process.

September 14-16: Dr. Christine Blasey Ford shares allegations that Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when she was 15

Kavanaugh and Republican leaders denied Dr. Blasey Ford’s claim, even before he learned of her name. Dr. Blasey Ford was forced to come forward with her experiences, and was bullied, shamed and threatened for speaking out.

September 5-6: Brett Kavanaugh misleads Senate Judiciary Committee members during his confirmation hearing

Kavanaugh repeatedly avoided questions on our fundamental rights by stating that Roe v. Wade is “settled precedent” even though his leaked emails said he believed otherwise. He also inaccurately referred to birth control as “abortion-inducing drugs” — a gross misunderstanding of women’s basic health care. He misled the Committee, yet his confirmation moves forward.

August 10: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley announces confirmation hearing date after only 7 percent of documents on Kavanaugh’s record were given to the Committee

Even though the National Archives warned him they would not be able to send over more than 900,000 documents on Kavanaugh’s time in the Bush White House until late October, Sen. Grassley locked in September 4 as the first hearing date.

“Republicans just announced that they are scheduling a hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh starting on September 4. This is outrageous. No one will be able to look at his full record before the hearing – not me, not you, not anyone. It won’t have been made public.” — Sen. Kamala Harris