There are similarities going back to 1991 when Supreme Court nominee, at that time, Clarence Thomas faced sexual harassment claims. Today, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh faces accusations that echo eerily of the 1991 Anita Hill episode. Both Thomas and Kavanaugh served as judges on a prominent Washington-based US appeals court. The women alleging the misconduct were coincidentally both professors. They were reluctant in coming forward with their full names and stories. In both episodes, the events occurred in the early 1980s and both women wanted to remain anonymous.
Anita Hill worked under Thomas at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. During that time, she alleged Thomas repeatedly asked her out and initiated conversations about pornographic films and his sexual prowess. Christine Blasey Ford is a research psychologist in California. She is accusing Judge Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when he was 17 and she was 15. She said he pinned her down and attempted to remove her clothes, placing his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream.
In 1991, as the case now, the question is how the committee resolves an allegation against a nominee for a life term appointment on the Supreme Court bench. On September 27, 2018, both Dr. Ford’s and Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony was heard. It was an emotional, riveting day filled with tears and jeers. An FBI Investigation was ordered, but with limitations. Members of the Senate are now reviewing Kavanaugh’s FBI Profile and the Senate Judiciary Committee says it’s time to vote.
After the Hill interviews, the Senate confirmed Clarence Thomas by a vote of 52 to 48. How will this end for Judge Kavanaugh? Will Kavanaugh get a lifetime appointment on America’s highest court? It will be decided whether this person will be in charge of protecting rights of women. Today, people opposed to Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination are marching to the Supreme Court. Everyone has an interest in the outcome. Will history be repeated?