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Congressman Krishnamoorthi on President's Attack on Dr. Ford: “To Understand Why Women Fear Reporting Sexual Assaults, One Need Look No Further Than The Oval Office”

October 3, 2018

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement in response to President Trump's attack on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford last night:

"Through his attack on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, President Trump made it clear that to understand why women fear reporting sexual assaults, one need look no further than the Oval Office and the President's enablers in Congress. Dr. Ford explained to the Senate Judiciary Committee how much of her hesitation in coming forward was driven by the same fear of reprisal, public mockery, and character assassination that prevents so many other survivors of sexual assault from coming forward. President Trump's words only justify the fears of survivors that their experiences and basic humanity will not be recognized, forcing them to relive their trauma. As the crowd of thousands joined the President in mocking Dr. Ford, I couldn't help but recall her own words when reliving her assault: ‘Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter. The uproarious laughter between the two, and they're having fun at my expense.'

Anyone defending the President's comments on Dr. Ford last night is defending a culture that silences survivors of sexual violence and empowers its perpetrators. Every American, and every Member of Congress, has their own choice in how they respond to the President's comments on Dr. Ford: whether they join President in his laughter, or if they will let the victims be heard and taken seriously."