A Trump-appointed judge dismissed my case with a wave of his gavel and the world kept spinning. In the end I, like so many women before me, was refused justice. I had always known it was likely that the system would fail me, but it wasn’t until I tried that I had to actually live through it. Seeking justice was like opening the box on Schrödinger’s cat. Being assaulted was painful, scary, and confusing, but at least I could choose to disclose only to those I knew would believe and support me. It was the hardest decision I have ever made, and if I’m being honest, I don’t know that I would make it again. Two years ago, I joined the ranks of public survivors by openly naming my rapist.
Then there was Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, and Paula Jones, who all accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault. The lives of Hill, her family, and her supporters were threatened, and Thomas was confirmed shortly afterward.
She was accused of “fantasy” and even “flat-out perjury.” It was suggested that she had fabricated her accusations based on scenes from The Exorcist. Twenty-seven years ago, Anita Hill testified in front of the same Senate Judiciary Committee (including some of the same members) that she had been sexually harassed by then-nominee Clarence Thomas. What they won’t ask is how she found the courage to come forward at all. They will ask why she waited so long to come forward, not realizing that questions like that are exactly why. She will tell her story - one she no doubt remembers with painful clarity - but there will be no smoking gun, no undeniable forensic evidence, and in the end, Brett Kavanaugh may well be confirmed as the newest Justice on the Supreme Court.įord’s detractors will say she cannot be believed because she was drinking. Christine Blasey Ford has shown remarkable bravery in speaking out about an attempted rape she experienced over 35 years ago.īut it’s hard not to fear what comes next.