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Canadians react to Kavanaugh: ''Someone can be...a good guy and still commit sexual violence'

Megan DeLaire


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.

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.

Senate Republicans are plowing forward with a committee vote Friday on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court after an extraordinary and emotional day of testimony.
Senate Republicans are plowing forward with a committee vote Friday on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court after an extraordinary and emotional day of testimony.
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.

Those who believe in Kavanaugh’s innocence are taking to social media to pledge their support using hashtags like “IStandWithBrett and #ConfirmKavanaughNow.

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.