After Trump’s Attacks, Senate Republicans Must Respect Survivors of Sexual Assault

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the remarks by President Donald J. Trump attacking survivors of sexual assault:

“The leader of the Republican party is again blaming sexual assault survivors. This must stop. And it will only stop if members of his own party actually stand up to him and demand that these brave women alleging sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh be heard and be respected.

“Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Ms. Deborah Ramirez have risked everything to come forward with their serious allegations. In a demonstration of their credibility, they have both asked that the FBI conduct a fair and nonpartisan investigation into these sexual assault claims. Republicans have no answer for why the FBI should not investigate other than their haste to dismiss survivors of sexual assault.

“Republicans are facing a decency test. We know Donald Trump failed it long ago but the question is whether every Republican senator will fail it as well.”

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.