A question posed by Sen Maize Hirono (D-HI), found US Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett defending herself, in front of her children and husband, as someone who has never committed a sex crime.
In questioning reminiscent of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, Hirono asked Barrett, “Since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors, or committed any physical or verbal harassment or assault of a sexual nature?”
Hirono followed up with, “Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?”
Sen. Mazie Hirono asks ACB "since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?" pic.twitter.com/6JgLkoIXIF
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 13, 2020
Barrett answered, respectfully, no to both queries. Hirono, a Progressive Democrat, noted she asks those two questions of all nominees who come before committees on which she sits.
The Hawaii Democrat defended her blatantly offensive and accusatory questions by citing a 2017 statement from Chief Justice John Roberts in which he said the judiciary “is not immune” from the problem of sexual misconduct. Hirono continued to cover in saying it is her duty “to ensure the fitness of nominees.”
Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings saw Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee facilitate testimony from several women who claimed Kavanaugh has made unwanted sexual advances toward them. None of the allegations were found to have merit.
Kavanaugh’s experience echoed the false testimony of sexual impropriety by Anita Hill brought against Justice Clarence Thomas during his confirmation hearings.
Hirono’s “vetting” establishes a pattern by Democrats to use unsubstantiated allegations of sexual abuse as weapons against Republican and conservatives who come before their committees in nomination.
