AIBU in thinking a drunken 18 year old boy should not be called to account for behaviour 35 years later?

[longwayoff]

I'm conflicted. Brett Kavanaugh, nominated by Trump as a Supreme Court judge, has been accused of locking Dr Christine Blasey Ford in a bedroom and sexually assaulting her. This happened in the early 1980s when they were teens at a party and he was very drunk, she hadnt been drinking. She says she is 100 percent certain he did this. He says wasn't me guv.
Her televised evidence was upsetting and convincing. I believe what she says and feel she should have whatever she needs to help her. BUT. Drunken 18 year old boy/man. All these years later? Is that fair? To wreck his career now? Personally, I loathe Trump and all his works, so politically I'm glad to see a fail. But this is not sitting well with me. I feel I should feel better about this. Convince me please.

Yabu

Isn't he sticking with him because Kavanaugh believes the president can pardon himself if found guilty of something? So it's to do with the ongoing investigation into Trump and the election?

I can believe that Kavanaugh doesn't remember what happened because to him it wasn't assault or a big deal, they were just messing around. I was sexually assaulted at uni and the guy who did it asked me two weeks later why I wasn't talking to him anymore. I can only assume in his mind he had done nothing wrong.

@susanwalker, yes, my x tried to strangle me and I was left feeling shocked, overwhelmed, wondering if I should run there and then or if it would be safer to wait til the next day to plan my exit. He brought me a cup of tea and then when I wouldn't take his tea he got in a huff with me. I think because he felt better after releasing his emotions he couldn't understand why it wasn't just overlooked and forgotten. It was unreasonable of me to hold a grudge.....

Looking at his performance I would not want him to have a role of such responsibility.

I agree with "MargaretDribble"; what deeply concerns me is his demeanour in 2018. What happened thirty years ago is nigh on impossible to prove either way, and people can mature and change. If it is true (and I found the lady concerned a convincing, dignified witness) the act was reprehensible.
But his aggressive, sulky fratboy attitude when challenged concerns me deeply. It was as if part of his personality is stuck at the stage of a stroppy teenager giving backchat, when interrogated by another senator (who, being a woman, and a Democrat, did not, in his perception, merit a civil response).
If he is attains this position, the appointment is for life, and the legislation he causes to be enacted could be permanently damaging.

Even if he were white as the driven yesterday spoke loudly of untruth. Why, if you were innocent would you behave as if you were lying?

OliversMumsArmy - seriously?! Dealt with?! I'm still "dealing with" an arguably lesser infraction over 30 years later! Do you realise that you most probably know in real life someone who has been sexually abused, assaulted or even raped and you are COMPLETELY dismissing their pain? Their experience? Shame on you! Do you have the first fucking clue of how it affects EVERY aspect of your life? Every relationship? I bloody despair!

Even trump supporters - do you not find it deeply disturbing that even republicans didn't have the SENSE to choose someone who's background was clear? That they seem to have not done even the most cursory attempt at due diligence in researching his background BEFORE nominating him? Rather shot themselves in the foot on competency levels alone!

Surferjet - don't be so disingenuous - you know full well that a skint black man is FAR less likely to be defended in the same way as a rich white man! Poor, black, women - are all more likely to be convicted of a crime whether guilty or not than some WASP bloke!

If he does get on the bench in theory he can be impeached and removed but that's only happened once before.

I don't think it's a great idea to let teenagers think that sexual crimes will eventually be forgotten if the victim doesn't report immediately. It doesn't matter how much time has passed - as soon as the victim is ready to report it must be taken seriously and the perpetrator should still face the same punishment.

Problem binge drinker with misogyny and honesty issues. Not good enough for a life long position as a judge in the court of last instance.
Not to mention many think BK perjured himself when questioned about his time in Dubya's administration.
On the plus side, he and that dolt Clarence Thomas should get on famously.

If more fuss were made of sexual assaults and perpetrators were held to account then maybe it would stop others committing the same crimes. Until sexual assault is treated as the evil that it is then we won't see a reduction in numbers.

"wreck his career"? No, not being a SCJ is not a ruined career.

This quote was on a different news article but I think it applies to Kavanaugh.

"It mirrors the message society sends when it says a rape victim has ruined a boy's life because she came forward," she said. "All of these messages tell girls that the only thing that matters is what men or boys want and that girls themselves, only matter as obstacles preventing boys and men from having what they want." "

Plus this is not a court of law, it is essentially a job interview. How would you do at a job interview if you cried and shouted that you loved beer?

Also, out of 300+ million people he is the best they have?

Well that was a depressing read. I was raped at 15 by a drunk 18 year old. I didn't report it then as didn't think anyone would believe me and due to good dose of internalised feelings of guilt and shame I didn't really let myself accept that I had been raped! Its only in therapy that I have begun to process this 22 years later! So what? Because I wasn't able to report it at this time I now cant do anything about it? People suggesting that victims should immediately report a rape clearly haven't got the first fucking clue about how it actually feels for some people.

I am a bit uneasy about someone being hauled up for something that possibly happened when he was 17. However, the witness was very credible.

I also agree with the pp who says his behaviour in 2018 has been reprehensible and that is no basis for such an important role in US society.

I am even more disgusted with all the men who have voted for him regardless. Really? Is there really nobody in the US who is better qualified than this guy?

Why are people saying they shouldn't try a man for decades old crimes? Are they so hard of thinking that they aren't considering the victims position and feelings? Some people should be ashamed of themselves.

Wtf, are you a complete muppet OP?

Completely agree with OP

Taking up the role of Justice of the Supreme Court requires a candidate to be above suspicion, and beyond reproach. The standard to which they are held is beyond that of the man on the street. It is a lifelong position - Supreme Court Justices hold the post until they die. Innocent until proven guilty does not apply here. Kavanaugh does not have to be innocent beyond a reasonable doubt, rather he must have an unblemished record. The Supreme Court upholds and exemplifies the moral standard of the United States therefore anything less than a spotless page is unacceptable.

This

@Sunshineandeggshells I'm sorry. And I'm sorry people (especially other women) have such a revolting, rape apologist attitude.

What other offences should young men not be held account for if they come to light later? Being part of the nazi regime ? Purse snatching from older woman? Animal cruelty? Drink driving? Leaving the scene of an accident they have caused? Or is it just physical and sexual adult against young women and girls that gets a free pass?
Men are better than this and should be treated as so.

Completely agree with OP

Goady without really putting any thought into it.

0/10.

Op I think you will find it’s called Karma

I was 14 years old at a party and drunk. 2 friends shoved me into a room and onto the bed. One tried to have sex with me while the other held the door. It hurt. They were too young to actually get it up and manage anything but tried forcing it. I remember every single detail and it has affected me throughout my life despite rationalising it.

I'm now 45. I'm not sure whether its going to do any good bring him to trial unless he's carried on being a fucking arse. I just know that to me it wasn't just a teenage mistake.

For those of you who agree with the OP, where do you stand on people still being sent to trial for crimes in WWII? www.theguardian.com/news/2017/aug/31/the-last-nazi-hunters These are old, frail men being tried for crimes from 75 years ago, committed when they were in their twenties. Do you think they should be judged or do they get away with it for being young and impressionable? Do you think Bill Cosby should be let off because it all happened years ago? Where's your line?