7 Reactions to the Kavanaugh Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Michael Gerson: Disqualifying if true

Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson, who worked with Kavanaugh in the George W. Bush administration, argued that the allegations are inconsistent with Kavanaugh's character, but the Senate should investigate the matter. 

"For what it is worth, the charge of sexual assault is utterly inconsistent with everything I saw of Kavanaugh's character and behavior toward women. He is distinguished by his unfailingly kind, considerate and respectful demeanor. To me, it is completely incredible to think of him as a sexual predator," he wrote. 

If the allegations are true, he continued, it means he lied to the Senate about it, which should disqualify him from serving on the Supreme Court, but there is currently not enough evidence to condemn him. 

"If Ford's claim against Kavanaugh is true, it means he boldly lied by categorically denying it. And those he lied to — his Senate jury — would properly find this disqualifying.

"The Kavanaugh nomination now hangs by the thinnest of strings. If the accusation is supported by other credible witnesses who were at the party, or if additional, credible accusations emerge from later in Kavanaugh's life, he should withdraw. If there is only a single, unsupported accusation, the Senate would be setting an unsustainable precedent by letting this determine the membership of the Supreme Court."