Following Assault Survivor’s Courageous Disclosure, Senate Must Halt Kavanaugh’s Nomination

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on Christine Blasey Ford’s decision to speak publicly about her assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh:

“Christine Blasey Ford did not want to make her allegations public, but after her letter was leaked to the media, she courageously chose to tell her story. The allegations are very serious, and the matter must now be thoroughly and fairly investigated while respecting her privacy. As a nation, we must be clear about the character required of those elected and appointed to our nation’s highest offices.

“Even before these allegations came to light, a broad range of civil rights organizations opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination. His confirmation process has been flawed from the start and should never have proceeded without the release of his full record. Senators should have stopped this process upon discovery that he repeatedly deceived and misled the Senate during his hearings. The Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination cannot go forward.

“When Anita Hill came forward to share her experiences of sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas, she was treated as though she were the one accused of wrongdoing. The Senate and the media have a responsibility to learn from the lessons of the past.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.