Senate must halt confirmation process, investigate sexual assault allegation against Brett Kavanaugh

HRC called for the Senate Judiciary Committee to halt the Supreme Court confirmation process for Brett Kavanaugh and investigate the sexual allegation against him brought forward by Professor Christine Blasey Ford.

“Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is brave to come forward with her story, and she must be treated with respect and dignity. Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination process has been anything but transparent, and now with this grave charge of sexual assault, this process must be halted immediately,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Moving forward with this confirmation process without conducting a thorough investigation would be deeply troubling and offensive to the American people, but more importantly to survivors of sexual assault across the country. It would communicate their trauma isn’t worthy of justice if a person sitting on the nation’s highest court can be confirmed without being investigated for alleged sexual violence.”

Last month, the Human Rights Campaign joined coalition partners in calling for the release of hundreds of thousands of documents related to Kavanaugh’s career in a bid for transparency on a lifetime appointment that would affect all Americans, especially LGBTQ people. This concern was exacerbated by Brett Kavanaugh’s refusal to answer basic questions about LGBTQ rights and reproductive health care during his confirmation hearings.

HRC released a comprehensive report on the threats Brett Kavanaugh poses to LGBTQ people. This was followed by the release of videos featuring Lillian, a young transgender woman in Alaska, and Laura, a resident of Maine and mother of a transgender son, Jack; both videos focus on the threats to the safety and dignity of LGBTQ people by this nomination. HRC has also mobilized more than 20,000 calls to the Senate demanding Kavanaugh be held accountable on views regarding LGBTQ people.

From non-discrimination protections to health care to LGBTQ military service, Kavanaugh is a nominee clearly hand-picked by anti-LGBTQ organizations to undermine the progress for equality.