Today, Congresswomen Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Lois Frankel (FL-21) led a group of 24 Members of Congress in pressing the Senate Judiciary Committee to use trauma-informed techniques when questioning Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who has brought forward an accusation of sexual assault against Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Ford has alleged Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when both were in high school. Her testimony on Thursday September 27^th will be the first time she has spoken publicly and in-person about her experience.

“The public, through their elected representatives, has a right to evaluate the credentials and the character of a Supreme Court nominee,” the lawmakers wrote. “At the same time, this is also an intensely personal matter.  Just as when dealing with any trauma survivor, we urge you to consult with experts and employ a trauma-informed approach when questioning Dr. Christine Blasey Ford – or any other survivor or witness for that matter – about her allegations against Judge Kavanaugh.  This is a time to demonstrate leadership and what Congress has learned over past decades about how to support victims and empower survivors.”

A trauma-informed approach recognizes the widespread impact of trauma resulting from sexual violence and integrates that knowledge to help those who work with survivors. This is an important effort that helps prevent triggering the survivor and re-traumatizing him or her. Across the country, there are robust programs to assist those that a survivor is most likely to encounter after reporting an incident -- prosecutors, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, healthcare providers, school administrators, and countless others – become trauma-informed.

The lawmakers continued, “We have been incredibly heartened by the strength and resilience of survivors we have met through our work in Congress. Yet, trauma, and its manifestations over a survivor’s lifetime, can be debilitatingly jarring and deeply engrained. Survivors of sexual violence are powerful, but we all share an obligation to ensure that they do not endure any more pain than they already have.”

In the letter, the Members ask the Senate Judiciary Committee to consult with experts and employ a trauma-informed approach when questioning Dr. Ford. The letter was signed by Representatives Alma Adam (NC-12), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Judy Chu (CA-27), David Cicilline (RI-01), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Eliot Engel (NY-16) Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Alcee Hastings (FL-20), Hank Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Grace Meng (NY-06), Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Mark Takano (CA-41), and Dina Titus (NV-01).  

The full letter can be read below:

Dear Senators,

As you continue to investigate the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, we urge you to conduct this process with sensitivity, dignity, and a focus on ascertaining the truth.  The public, through their elected representatives, has a right to evaluate the credentials and the character of a Supreme Court nominee.  At the same time, this is also an intensely personal matter.  Just as when dealing with any trauma survivor, we urge you to consult with experts and employ a trauma-informed approach when questioning Dr. Christine Blasey Ford – or any other survivor or witness for that matter – about her allegations against Judge Kavanaugh.  This is a time to demonstrate leadership and what Congress has learned over past decades about how to support victims and empower survivors. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) describes a trauma-informed approach as one that:                                                                                                     

1. Realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands the potential paths for recovery from that trauma;
2. Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma
3. Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices
4. Seeks to actively resist re-traumatization.

To that end, we urge the Committee to ensure that Dr. Ford is comfortable with the details surrounding the hearing, including the time and location in which it is held and those that are in attendance. As she speaks about painful and personal subjects, she should be able to take breaks as needed and be permitted to seat her supporters in immediate proximity. She must fully understand the process of the hearing in advance and most importantly, Committee Members must conduct themselves in a way that respects Dr. Ford and her experience. Any question, statement, or committee policy that, intentionally or not, intimidates or belittles Dr. Ford would reflect poorly on Congress and the integrity of the judicial nomination process. 

Taking such an approach is not only imperative to the wellbeing of Dr. Ford, but given the national attention Thursday’s hearing will draw, it would send a powerful message to millions of survivors across the United States. Even in the #MeToo era, many are still suffering in silence after experiencing vicious attacks and assaults. They fear that if they come forward, those they tell will not care or would dismiss them out-of-hand. 

We applaud Dr. Ford for her tremendous bravery in sharing her story. In doing so, she has faced death threats, the relocation of her family for their safety, the compromise of her personal information and e-mail accounts, and the condemnation of many who chose not to believe her even before having the opportunity to hear her full account. It is fundamental, therefore, that she not be subjected to questions and an environment that re-traumatizes her. Nearly 27 years ago, Anita Hill testified before your committee with allegations against another Supreme Court nominee. She encountered numerous questions that demeaned and impugned her character, cast doubt on her integrity, and forced her to repeatedly describe the harassment she experienced in graphic, humiliating detail. This cannot occur again. Dr. Ford has already faced significant pressure to meet the Senate’s timetable for testifying. She was denied her request for a Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigation of her allegations, something that had been conducted prior to Professor Hill’s testimony in 1991. As someone who risked so much to step forward as a survivor, Dr. Ford deserves greater accommodation in this process. 

We bring to your attention the September 18th letter sent to you by the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. We firmly second their recommendation that you consult with experienced professionals in the field of sexual violence and trauma to develop a comprehensive, trauma-informed approach for the committee to implement in any hearing involving Dr. Ford, or any other survivors who may come forward and wish to testify. 

We have been incredibly heartened by the strength and resilience of survivors we have met through our work in Congress. Yet, trauma, and its manifestations over a survivor’s lifetime, can be debilitatingly jarring and deeply engrained. Survivors of sexual violence are powerful, but we all share an obligation to ensure that they do not endure any more pain than they already have. In communities across the United States, those who survivors encounter after coming forward— prosecutors, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, healthcare providers, school administrators, and countless others— have been learning how to support these survivors by providing them with trauma-informed care. We therefore strongly urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to also undertake such a practice when engaging with Dr. Ford.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.

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