Christine Blasey Ford wanted to flee the U.S. to avoid Brett Kavanaugh. Now she may testify against

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post



By Jessica Contrera, Ian Shapira, Emma Brown and Steve Hendrix

September 22 at 7:45 AM

When Donald Trump won his upset presidential victory in 2016, Christine Blasey Ford’s thoughts quickly turned to a name most Americans had never heard of but one that had unsettled her for years: Brett M. Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh — a judge on the prestigious U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia — was among those mentioned as a possible replacement for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016. When Trump nominated Neil M. Gorsuch, Ford was relieved but still uneasy. Then Justice Anthony M. Kennedy announced his retirement and Ford, 51, began fretting again.

“Her mind-set was, ‘I’ve got this terrible secret. .?.?.What am I going to do with this secret?’ ” her husband, Russell Ford, 56, recalled.

To many, Kavanaugh was a respected jurist. To her, he was the teenager who had attacked her when they were in high school.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/christine-blasey-ford-wanted-to-flee-the-us-to-avoid-brett-kavanaugh-now-she-may-testify-against-him/2018/09/22/db942340-bdb1-11e8-8792-78719177250f_story.html

[Equinox Moon]

1. I don't believe for a moment that this was a one-off, Kavanaugh's sexual misconduct behavior.

Power and control in order to "feel good" at the expense of another.

When people say sexual assault, sexual misconduct and harassment are all about control and power; it is so that the perpetrator feels good. They benefit, in spite of harming others. And, the consequence is trauma and often times life long trauma to the one they (often times men) exploited and harmed.

[oberliner]

2. Do you think other women will come forward?

[Equinox Moon]

4. Interesting question.

I guess we will wait and see. The courage to do this is off the charts. I would say it is a warrior's courage.

[empedocles]

6. 'It gets easier' - so said Jason Bourne.

[if and as, the number of warriors piles up.]

[oberliner]

7. Agreed

Though I think Dr. Ford coming forward may give others the courage to do so as well. A second woman telling a similar story about Kavanaugh would certainly have a huge impact.

[DeminPennswoods]

10. Interesting, these folks are part of the same elite background

It's likely other Kavanaugh assault victims are now well-established in prestigious careers and/or, well-paying jobs and comfortable lives. I'm not sure how many are willing to risk losing all that and having their and their family's lives turned upside down and inside out.

[Lulu KC]

11. Yes. I've been waiting. n/t

[SunSeeker]

9. Him and his rape buddy, Judge, were partners in crime.

They acted like they had done this before. Even as drunk as they were, they seemed to have a routine. Like a wolf pack they corralled Christine in that room, turned up the music, and Judge stood watch at the door while Kav went in for the kill.

[mcar]

3. Excellent article

Anyone who thinks Dr. Ford is lying needs to read this.

[Bayard]

5. Good article

I doubt this is the only woman he assaulted as well. But others, especially after seeing what Dr. Ford is being put through, may not want to relive the experience in living color.

[oberliner]

8. Alternatively, Ford coming forward may inspire them to do likewise

Such as what happened with Bill Cosby.

[MountCleaners]

12. I'd like to hear more about her academic work

If her work was partly inspired by her overcoming trauma, that's another point in her favor. I didn't know this about her until reading the article, but the article doesn't go into detail. It's pretty damning if she did work on assault and trauma.