As Brett Kavanaugh’s attempted rape scandal continues to get uglier, a number of Republican Senators are starting to distance themselves from the embattled Supreme Court nominee. However, Orrin Hatch is not one of them. The Utah Senator continued to support Kavanaugh today, and the rationales he’s now floating are nothing short of jaw-dropping.
During Monday’s debate about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) tried to gaslight the accuser live on national television.
“Hatch told me Kavanaugh is ‘honest’ and ‘straightforward’ and said after talking to Kavanaugh the woman might be ‘mixed up,’” tweeted NBC Hill reporter Leigh Ann Caldwell.
During a CNN interview, Hatch said “she’s mixed up” and “she’s mistaken.” He didn’t go so far as to use the words “legitimate rape” but he wasn’t far off.
But it was what Hatch said next that’s set off alarms across the board.
According to Laura Litvan of Bloomberg, Orrin Hatch said this about Ford’s accusation that Kavanaugh tried to rape her: “If that were true, I think it would be hard for senators not to consider who he is today.” Hatch is literally saying that it’s okay to put an attempted rapist on the Supreme Court because he’s supposedly a better person now than when he tried to rape the woman.
This is the kind of argument you generally hear about whether a rapist should be allowed out of prison on parole, not about whether a rapist should be allowed on the Supreme Court.
The internet quickly let him have it. See the best below:
Maybe @senorrinhatch should just start calling it "locker room rape"
— Zoey Bartlet-Young (@Zoey_Bartlet) September 17, 2018
Woah. Orrin Hatch just said on CNN that he just spoke to Kavanaugh by phone, and Kavanaugh told him “he wasn’t at the party.“
How does Kavanaugh remember an uneventful party from 36 years ago well enough to know now, nearly 4 decades later, that he wasn’t there?
— John Aravosis 🇺🇸 (@aravosis) September 17, 2018
Orrin Hatch suggests that even if Kavanaugh attempted to rape someone, it shouldn't impact his ability to serve on the United States Supreme Court. https://t.co/HdWXfvkk9F
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) September 17, 2018
"There are a lot of things that just don't make sense to me about Anita Hill's testimony. Some of it just doesn't square with what I think is basic reality and common sense" — Orrin Hatch, October 1991
Christine Ford seems "mixed up" — Orrin Hatch, September 2018
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 17, 2018
Hatch needs to resign now. Not later; now!
This is a horrendous take on sexual assault. https://t.co/KpL0YTpSbA
— Rough Draft 🌊 I Resist for Future Generations. (@RoughDraft360) September 17, 2018
Hatch is an old effn fart who needs to retire.
— 🌊Teresa🌊 (@TerryBrandt8) September 17, 2018
Hatch's Mormon morality always takes the day off when a Republican's illegal or indecent actions are in question. Convenient but disgusting. https://t.co/MDfrjbOQYx
— Bob Shaw (@shawrls) September 17, 2018
You know, after it’s all said and done, the whole #MeToo movement world should fall right on this asshole’s Head!!! Orin Hatch is the Anti-#MeToo guru, and has to resign! #BrettKavanaugh
— Louie B 🇺🇸 (@Ajblivits) September 17, 2018
Kavanaugh's accuser hasn't put an exact date on the party, yet Kavanaugh tells Sen. Orin Hatch by phone today that he didn't attend the party. I need a drink.
— Eddie_Burkhalter (@BurkhalterEddie) September 17, 2018
Don't EVER forget.
Orrin Hatch SAVAGED Anita Hill.
He despises women.
Let's make them all pay.
https://t.co/isY2pgK8kZ— Brian Hjelle🇺🇸🇵🇷🇳🇴🇲🇽🇨🇦 (@hjelle_brian) September 17, 2018
To say, "I believe his denials" with no evidence other than the person's denials, honestly you have to be either a delusional liar or a complete fucking idiot. Yes, I'm talking about Senator Hatch and other GOP'ers.
— Mitchel Lichtman (@mitchellichtman) September 17, 2018
Senator Franken allegation were ridiculous. Yes, tasteless. But, not worthy of leaving the Senate. This is attempted rape. Kavanaugh was was a fall over drunk at Yale and HS per his good friend.
— Maggie (@flyachihuahua) September 17, 2018
Orrin Hatch does not give even a tiny rat's ass about #MeToo … he wouldn't care if #Kavanaugh raped a dozen women last week … not the person to go to for a comment on this subject.#StopKavanaugh #VoteOutTheGOP
— John Moffitt (@JohnRMoffitt) September 17, 2018
Orrin Hatch does not give even a tiny rat's ass about #MeToo … he wouldn't care if #Kavanaugh raped a dozen women last week … not the person to go to for a comment on this subject.#StopKavanaugh #VoteOutTheGOP
— John Moffitt (@JohnRMoffitt) September 17, 2018
