For Immediate Release: September 16, 2019
Contact: [email protected]
In light of news of another report of sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue released the following statement:
“News of thoroughly researched allegations of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh stand to completely undermine public trust in the highest Court and the elected officials who rushed to install him, while impeding a proper investigation. An honorable man would recognize this and step down. Short of that, Trump administration officials should not withhold information needed for the House Judiciary Committee’s investigation. The American people deserve the truth.”
Kavanaugh was narrowly confirmed to the Supreme Court with historically low popularity, following widespread outrage, including the largest single-day protest against a Supreme Court nominee ever, organized by NARAL and a broad coalition of partner organizations.
Polling by Perry/Undem after the Kavanaugh hearings found that not only did voters believe Christine Blasey Ford, who was assaulted by Kavanaugh — by a 16 point margin — but also that the hearings may have actually helped Democrats more than Republicans in the November 2018 election. Women turned out at the polls and matched their previous high turnout in a midterm to elect Democrats in the House (ushering in the most progressive, diverse, pro-choice Congress in history) and pro-choice governors across the country.
Now, candidates are running on reproductive freedom —and making it clear that it’s a winning strategy for 2020. Seven presidential candidates so far have joined NARAL for its NARAL Presidential Town Hall series and the next one in the series is with Senator Elizabeth Warren tomorrow. Candidate after candidate has released concrete plans to safeguard reproductive rights and ensure everyone can decide if, when, and how to start or grow their family. Voters are making it clear it’s a top-priority and increasingly, support for abortion rights are the floor, not the ceiling.
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NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all. For more than 50 years, NARAL has worked to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. Since 1969, NARAL has made history, grown to over 2 million members, and met the moments that have defined this fight with action, power and freedom. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”