Kavanaugh Hearings

At the top, you’ll find ongoing updates about Kavanaugh. Scroll down for resources for survivors of sexual assault and how you can be an ally.

Update: "New York Times" Report Stirs Debate (September 17, 2019 12:30 PM EST)

• A report from the New York Times revealed that Deborah Ramirez, the second woman to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh, provided the FBI with at least 25 witnesses to corroborate her claims, but the bureau didn’t interview any of them or allow Ramirez to testify.
• The report also detailed a new accusation of sexual misconduct from Kavanaugh’s college years, though both the classmate who reported the event to the FBI, and the alleged survivor declined to be interviewed. Because of this, the Times received criticism from writers and politicians for their decision to publish the allegation.

Update: Kavanaugh Confirmed and Sworn In (October 9, 2018 2:00 PM EST)

• Judge Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed and sworn in to the Supreme Court over the weekend 50-48, the closest successful confirmation in over 100 years.
• Kavanaugh’s confirmation process was one of the most divisive in history with thousands of people around the country protesting the confirmation, while others rallied in support of him.
• Regardless of your feelings on particular case, sexual assault is not a partisan issue -- it's a human issue. DoSomething.org believes survivors of sexual assault and is dedicated to giving all young people (regardless of place, gender, or political leanings) the tools to prevent sexual assault and harassment. Together we can make our communities safer for everyone.

Kavanaugh Hearings: What’s Happening (September 28, 2018 4:00 PM EST)

TL;DR

• Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, has been accused by three women of sexual assault.
• The first of the women, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor from California, alleges that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her while the two were both in high school.
• Before the Senate voted on whether to confirm Kavanaugh’s nomination, they invited Ford to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ford requested an FBI investigation prior to testifying, but her request was denied. She delivered a brave, emotional account of the assault. Judge Kavanaugh testified immediately after and denied all the allegations.

• The Committee voted 11-10 to move Kavanaugh ahead to a full Senate vote on his confirmation. But prior to next week’s vote, Republicans have agreed for the FBI to investigate the alleged assault.

Historical Context

You may have heard comparisons of this case to the case of Anita Hill and Justice Clarence Thomas. In 1991, President George Bush nominated Thomas to the Supreme Court. Hill, a lawyer and professor, accused Thomas of sexual harassment and had her testimony supported by several eyewitnesses. Unlike Dr. Ford, an FBI investigation was conducted prior to her testifying. Still, Thomas was confirmed 52-48 and still serves on the Supreme Court.

Resources On Sexual Assault

Whenever stories about sexual assault appear in the news, it can be extremely triggering and painful for survivors and the people closest to them. 1 in 3 people are affected by sexual misconduct or dating abuse, so chances are, someone close to you is having a really hard time right now.

If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of crisis support, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Self-Care

If you’re a survivor of sexual assault, it’s important to ensure that you are taking care of yourself, especially since the news may be re-traumatizing. Check out these ways to take care of yourself. And remember that self-care is different for every person. As our friends at Shine Text say, “Your version of self-care might look really different than what others do, and that’s okay. Be honest about what your needs are and what works for you. Give yourself all you’ve got, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

How To Be An Ally

There are simple ways that you can be an ally to survivors of sexual harassment and assault. Here are a few:

1. Believe and listen to survivors. One of the best ways to show your support for survivors is to reaffirm that you believe their story and to offer your support by being a receptive person they can confide in.
2. Don’t ask intruding questions. Prying into a survivor’s experience can deepen wounds and is an extreme invasion of privacy. By asking intruding questions you may force the survivor to relive their trauma. Check out these tips for what active listening looks like.
3. Don’t pressure survivors to report to the authorities. Asking if they’ve reported the assault is equally as intrusive as questions about the assault itself -- there are a host of reasons why survivors don’t come forward sooner.
4. Confidentiality. Being an ally means supporting survivors and respecting their wishes. That means keeping what they tell you private, unless they specifically ask you to tell someone else.
5. TAKE ACTION. Show your Support for Survivors by signing up for our campaign. Make a sign to share resources where can survivors find the help they need.

More Information About Sexual Assault

Check out this Teen Vogue article about the psychology of memory as it relates to assault and why survivors may not remember all the details of their assault.

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