Senators Must Respect Wishes of Dr. Blasey Ford and Support FBI Investigation before Hearings

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s attorney’s request that an FBI investigation be a ‘first step’ before hearings are held:

“No survivor of sexual assault should be forced to share their story in public, let alone before the Senate. Dr. Blasey Ford was courageous in sharing her story despite her desire for confidentiality given the great personal risk – risk that has been realized given the death threats and personal attacks she has endured. The FBI must investigate the sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh before any hearing. While the all-male Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee may disagree, Dr. Blasey Ford’s request is reasonable and should be honored.”

The Leadership Conference and the National Women’s Law Center sent a letter to the Senate today urging the postponement of the scheduled hearing, and called for an investigation of the allegations. The letter is available here.

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.