Confirmation Hearing Circus

Defining Moments Monday

Needless to say, I am deeply troubled by the entire circus surrounding Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Senate Confirmation Hearings and the two allegations made against him about sexual misconduct.  I do not know if the allegations against him are true or not.  Those of you reading this don’t know either.

In no way do I want to diminish the seriousness, the tragedy, the humiliation of victims of sexual violence or misconduct.  While I studied sex crimes investigations with the FBI and spent a fair amount of time in my policing career investigating sex crimes, I have nothing but compassion for those who have been victimized of this most horrific, demeaning crime.  I understand that I can never comprehend the daily agony that a person must go through following such victimization.

I also know that alleged perpetrators are wrongly accused and it is not a rare occasion when it happens.  My career taught me that there are multiple reasons for false allegations made against people and that those false allegations also have long-standing, painful consequences for those accused of such.  I suspect that all of us at one time or another have been wrongly accused of something, not necessarily of a sexual nature, and can have an appreciation of the sickening feeling that overcomes one when victimized of a false allegation.  Most of my former colleagues and those currently in the law enforcement field know what it is like to be falsely accused of wrongdoing.  No matter how many times it happens you never get used to it.  Unfortunately, it comes with the territory.  And, no matter how often you are cleared of false allegations, the cloud of doubt never goes completely away.

A defining moment came to me in my policing career when I learned that memories can be created seemingly out of thin air.  It happens.  Events that never happened can become very real in people’s minds, and nothing one can say or prove will convince the “victim” otherwise.  And, unfortunately, just like copycat crimes that occur, copycat victimizations also happen.  I’ve seen it first-hand.  I saw it spin absolutely out of control.  The self-created victimizations come out of the woodwork.

I reiterate.  I have nothing but compassion for those who have been victims of sexual or any other type of abuse.  It is inexcusable.  And while the timing of the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh is suspect (and shame, shame, shame on Diane Feinstein for holding this ace up her sleeve until the very last moment), I draw no conclusions as to his participation in the allegations made against him.  However, I also have compassion for those wrongly accused of any act or crime.

At best, if Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, even if he is completely exonerated, he has essentially been neutered.  He will join the ranks of Justice Clarence Thomas and slide into history as irrelevant.  (By the way, I personally like Justice Thomas.  There is more to him than what meets the eye,)  If shown by clear and convincing evidence that he has committed these acts, he should be disbarred – not for having committed them, but for lying.  Meanwhile, it is inconceivable to me that there is already talk of impeachment of Judge Kavanaugh should his appointment to the Court be approved.

There are a number of lessons to be learned from this whole confirmation circus.  Where do I begin?

1.     As Americans, we tend to jump on the latest craze as it sweeps the nation.  Just like new toys that come out and are gobbled up by children, we tend to jump onto the latest social fads only to find that there is not nearly as much substance to them as what was first declared.
2.     No male is safe now from #MeToo.  (I have grown fearful of responding with a “me too” instead of “I agree” or “it happened to me as well.”)
3.     Youthful indiscretions will come back to haunt you – or someone else.
4.     While we should never blame the victim for victimization, there is something to be said for not putting yourself into dangerous situations. 
5.     Never, ever underestimate the power of alcohol.
6.     Contrary to popular opinion, the motivation to dominate a woman is not the only reason men commit sex crimes.
7.     There is something to be said for living a virtuous life.
8.     As you should never judge a book by its cover you should never judge an allegation by its content.

At this point, I don’t know which outcome will be worse, whether the allegations be proven to be true or if they are proven to be false.