Following more than eight hours of testimony from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday, a U.S. Senate judiciary committee voted to advance Judge Kavanaugh’s U.S. Supreme Court nomination despite sexual assault allegations against him.
But there is a catch. Despite voting in favour of Kavanaugh, Sen. Jeff Flake said he would not support Kavanaugh’s final confirmation until after an FBI probe into sexual assault allegations levelled against him by Ford.
Kavanaugh is U.S. President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. In fact, Trump took to Twitter on Thursday night to praise Kavanaugh for his testimony that day.
Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats’ search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2018
A green light for Kavanaugh from the committee is a step for the Republicans toward confirming him as Supreme Court judge, despite his dubious history, the vehement opposition of Democrats and the dark cloud of suspicion that hangs over him.
If he is confirmed for the Supreme Court, Kavanaugh could be the deciding vote on cases involving immigration, abortion, transgender troops, gay rights and voting rights.
But first, he will need to pass a week-long FBI probe into his background and the allegations against him.
The testimonies
During a testimony that one senator described as “riveting,” Ford said she was “100 per cent certain” that Kavanaugh assaulted her in 1982, and offered clear descriptions of the things she saw, heard and felt during the incident. She recounted hearing laughter and said she feared Kavanaugh would rape or “accidentally kill” her as he allegedly pressed the weight of his body against hers.
Supporters of the #MeToo movement have praised Ford for her courage in coming out with her story and reliving her trauma, and for her conviction and composure in answering the committee’s questions.
Online, Twitter users showed support for Ford with hashtags like #BelieveSurvivors #MeToo #DelayTheVote #StopKavanaugh.
Listening to @SenatorLeahy saying "I believe her" gave me the goosebumps. Everything he said makes so much sense… #KavanaughHearings #MeToo
— Lali M. Garcia (@MsMolinaGarcia) September 28, 2018
Those who believe in Kavanaugh’s innocence are taking to social media to pledge their support using hashtags like “IStandWithBrett and #ConfirmKavanaughNow.
I remember the name, the face , the smell (booze),my shirt, the day ,the month , how I got there , how I got home, the night I was raped on the concrete ,in a driveway between a Honda and a biscayne..crying.
Ill never forget it, I’ll never need notes to remember #istandwithbrett— SavedGrace🙏🏻 (@yeshua_porvida) September 28, 2018
Sorry but I just don't believe the accusations against Brett Kavanaugh..not a Trump fan at all however something just seems wrong here, the accusations don't ring true to me, it's just not making sense..#KavanaughHearings
— Lisa (@lisamarieLML) September 27, 2018
Kavanaugh asserted his innocence throughout his opening statement and questioning by committee members, sometimes in emotional outbursts. He described Dr. Ford’s accusations as character assassination and decried his confirmation opposition as a “national disgrace.
While Ford said she was “100 per cent certain” Kavanaugh had assaulted her, he said he was 100 per cent certain he hadn’t, although he declined to pause the proceedings to allow the FBI to investigate.
Here’s what Canadians are saying about the testimonials, the vote and the week to come.
I THOUGHT JUDGE KAVANAUGH SOUNDED LIKE A GUILTY MAN
But don’t take my word for it. Check out the expressions on the faces of his mother and his wife.#KavanaughConfirmation pic.twitter.com/lBAUxCMmSQ
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) September 27, 2018
Shoutout to all the women alternating between raging and crying and reliving their own trauma today. Be good to yourselves.
— Elizabeth Renzetti (@lizrenzetti) September 27, 2018
The conversations #Kavanaugh prompted me to remember that #PatrickBrown is running for mayor of Brampton. We have work to do here #MeToo
— Farrah Khan (@farrahsafiakhan) September 28, 2018
🚨🚨🚨Someone can be seen as a good guy and still commit sexual violence. #BelieveSurvivors
— Farrah Khan (@farrahsafiakhan) September 28, 2018
You have survived and you will continue to survive. How you're feeling is valid and you aren't the only one. Sending care to whoever reads this 💜
— Advocates for a Student Culture of Consent (@ascc_community) September 28, 2018
it has been a day. relived my own trauma multiple times, stared blankly into the distance, listened to old men apologize to Kavanaugh for what hes been through, while they hid behind a female prosecutor and offered no condolences to Dr. Ford. Have a cute cat #KavanaughHearings pic.twitter.com/AbZKsfZJOC
— Andy (@ashinanfandom) September 27, 2018
Maybe Ford remembered wrong and Judge did it, not Kavanaugh? Then what happens to Ford, Kavanaugh and Judge?
— David Yee (@thedave2006) September 28, 2018
The possibility hangs over all of this, one I return to over and over, that Blasey Ford’s account is absolutely true and that Kavanaugh has absolutely no memory of it and thinks he has been falsely accused.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 27, 2018
Call me a conspiracy nut job, but I’m starting to believe that #Kavanaugh was hand picked by #Putin to further divide America, undermine its democratic institutions and sow further chaos. It’s a win-win either way for #TrumpRussia. #SCOTUS#Kavanaugh#KavanaughHearing#MAGA?!?!
— Just a Hockey Dad (@2005HockeyDad) September 28, 2018
The behaviour of #Kavanaugh yesterday was inappropriate, partisan, angry, belligerent, unprofessional tone, behaviour and out of control. if you believed #Ford or your believe #Kavanaugh his action shows he doesn’t have the temperament of a Supreme Court Judge. @SenatorCollins
— Michelle Belieber 🚫🧠 (@MichelleCaissi1) September 28, 2018