The Legend of Lighthouse Field State Beach
The waters around Lighthouse Field State Beach, in Santa Cruz, California, are beautiful to look at, but surfing here is something else. It takes a certain kind of fortitude to jump in. The waves are great, but the currents are strong, and the rocks are sharp and unforgiving. Christine Blasey Ford has surfed this break countless times, on good days and bad. She knows just what it takes to summon up your courage and hurl yourself off a cliff.
Legend has it that in September 2018, Ford – a Ph.D. in psychology, a professor at Palo Alto University, and a mother of two – jumped straight into the maelstrom of American politics.
She alleged that Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was then a nominee for a seat on the Supreme Court, had sexually assaulted her in the summer of 1982, when she was 15 and he was 17.
"I am here today not because I want to be. I am terrified."
In her testimony she stated, "I was pushed onto the bed and Brett got on top of me. He began running his hands over my body and grinding his hips into me."
The Senate Judiciary Committee Hears Testimonies in Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing
During a highly anticipated Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Christine Blasey Ford testified that she is "100 percent" certain that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh assaulted her. Her emotional testimony captivated the attention of both the committee members and nearly 10 million viewers watching on cable TV.
- Read Christine Blasey Ford's prepared testimony
In response, Kavanaugh vehemently denied the allegations, stating, "This confirmation process has become a national disgrace." He refuted Ford's claims, emphasizing that his calendar from 1982 does not align with the alleged incident.
- Brett Kavanaugh maintains his innocence during the hearing
- Insights on the Supreme Court's dynamics and power struggles ("Sunday Morning")
- Analysis: What's missing from the FBI's investigation into Kavanaugh? ("CBS Evening News")
Despite attempts to reach out to Justice Kavanaugh for comments, "Sunday Morning" received no response to their inquiries made through the court.
During the hearing, Ford was questioned about the lack of recollection from others present that night. Supporters of Kavanaugh raised doubts about the consistency of Ford's account, prompting discussions on the credibility of her testimony.
During a recent interview, Ford reflected on the high school parties and the lack of recollection from his friends. According to Ford, the frequent gatherings made it unsurprising that details from a particular evening were hazy for some.
When asked if the lack of memory from others supported Kavanaugh's version of events, Ford expressed skepticism. She emphasized that survivors know their truth, regardless of others' recollections or beliefs.
- Christine Blasey Ford: I was prepared for "being dismissed" for Brett Kavanaugh allegations
Ford's testimony elicited strong reactions from various quarters.
Reflecting on her experience, Ford admitted to possibly being idealistic or naive about the aftermath of her testimony.
Following a memo released by committee chair Charles Grassley's office in November 2018, the Senate and subsequent FBI investigations concluded that there was "no evidence to substantiate any of the claims of sexual assault made against Justice Kavanaugh."
Reflecting on this, Smith inquired, "What was it like for you to see that? Here it goes out there and you know there were people on television saying, 'Look, this exonerates Justice Kavanaugh'?"
Furthermore, the situation took a dark turn: not only was her experience in the national spotlight deeply traumatic, but it also led to credible death threats that forced her and her family to leave their home and stay in a hotel for months.
What kind of threats did she receive? Ford revealed, "Gosh. 'I wanna see you six feet under. I wanna see you 12 feet under, 10 feet under,' any amount, you know, a lot of those. 'I hope you get cancer. I hope you die. I give you a year. Glad you have two kids 'cause we have two opportunities.' And all of the letters like that, they would have such similarity to them that it felt like, 'Do these people know each other? Because how could the wording be that similar?'"
"They were threatening your family, your kids?" asked Smith.
"Uh-huh. Yeah, especially the first-born. That seemed to be a thing. It's, like, you know, 'We'll take your first-born.' … It's still scary. It still scares me."
In fact, it got so bad that the family needed 'round-the-clock security, and to this day they still use guards for some public appearances, which can cost thousands of dollars at a time.
She writes about it all in a new book, "One Way Back," including her months-long struggle to decide how, or if, to come forward at all.
Smith asked, "It seems like you've kind of gotten back to, if not normal, at least safety, feeling comfortable. Why write this book and put yourself out in the spotlight again?"
"This book is really for the letter-writers, and it's dedicated to them," said Ford.
She says most of the mail she got were letters from supporters and survivors of sexual assault – so many that they've taken up the dining room in her home.
And they just keep coming. "We've made it through 30,000 so far," Ford said. "All I know is there's more than that left to go."
Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Justice Kavanaugh of sexual assault, shared that the letters she received after her testimony made a significant impact on her. She expressed that even though Kavanaugh was confirmed, the support she received through those letters was meaningful. "I think it would be impossible to read the letters and not – even if you just read 10 of them – think that it didn't matter."
When asked about her current life, Ford mentioned that she has embraced a new normal after letting go of the idea of returning to her old one. She stated, "But I'm in a new normal, and a new chapter."
Ford reflected on her decision to come forward, acknowledging that she was unaware of the challenges she would face but believed it was the right thing to do. She expressed no regrets about speaking out, emphasizing her reverence for institutions like the Supreme Court. "Not at all," said Ford. "I grew up in D.C. I revered all of those institutions. And to me the Supreme Court was sort of the ultimate. That's where our very best people are."
READ AN EXCERPT: "One Way Back" by Christine Blasey Ford
For more info:
- "One Way Back: A Memoir" by Christine Blasey Ford (St. Martin's Press), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available March 19 via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org
Story produced by John D'Amelio. Editor: Mike Levine.
