The media owe Brett Kavanaugh an apology

Without a shred of evidence that Brett Kavanaugh had ever even met Christine Blasey Ford, the news media decided the then-Supreme Court nominee was guilty of an unconscionable sexual assault four decades ago. Kavanaugh went overnight from being understood to be a consummate legal star, women’s advocate, and faithful family man, to being depicted as a sleazy drunkard and would-be rapist. 

Now, with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, facing an accusation of sexual assault, the media are demanding that an accusation against a leading public figure should be supported by far more evidence. 

By any objective standard, the accusation from former Senate staffer Tara Reade that Biden sexually assaulted her is stronger than Ford’s accusation against Kavanaugh. This does not mean Biden is guilty and should be disqualified. But it does highlight the grave injustice done to Kavanaugh.

Ford did not tell anyone her story until nearly 30 years later, in a private therapy session. Her story changed a lot over time — from the number of people at the party where the attack allegedly took place, to the year it occurred. None of the people Ford said were there could recall the party, and even her best friend at the time, Leland Keyser, said she did not have “any confidence” in the story. To this day, there is no evidence Kavanaugh and Ford ever met.