It was never about the truth.

It was never about justice.

But it was all about Donald Trump’s agenda.

And that is the truth.

As long suspected, we now know that the Trump administration had no intention of taking Brett Kavanaugh’s investigation seriously. They were hell bent on seating him on the Supreme Court and Donald Trump made sure “his” people and “his” Justice department would get it done. No matter the cost. No matter the truth. No matter that we will long be paying the price.

We now learn from the FBI that 4,500 tips collected in 2018 about Justice Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing were ignored.

Follow Up or Cover Up

Claims that emerged against Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings in the summer of 2018 were repressed. Vintage Superman comic

In a new letter sent to the Senate the FBI admits it never meaningfully investigated the claims against Brett Kavanaugh because it was only authorized to talk to people that were approved by the Trump White House. They did not  follow up on any of the tips they received from the tip line. Facts were hidden, information suppressed.

Only 10 people were interviewed. Ten. People.

What might have been revealed from even a handful of these tips if they were able to properly investigate? There is no doubt that whatever we heard was merely the tip of a very sordid iceberg.

What were they scared of?

More brewskie fueled “youthful” antics. Or something else.

In a statement Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s lawyers stated:  Because the FBI and Trump White House Counsel hid the ball on this we did not know how many of those 4,500 tips were consequential how many tips supported Dr. Fords testimony or how many showed that Kavanaugh perjured himself during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Dr. Ford’s lawyer called it a sham. I agree

But for the dozens of women who came forward to tell their stories, the effects of Kavanaugh’s bad behavior is anything but a sham.

It is all too real . A story all too familiar. And heartbreaking.

The testimony of Dr Ford stays with me, haunting me to this day.

I was awed, I was inspired, I was enraged, and I was devastated when I listened to Dr. Ford’s testimony in September of 2018.  I felt emboldened by this strong, recognizable and honest voice that resonated in a Congressional hearing room.

At the time of the hearings , the  Kavanaugh scandal unleashed millions of voices in solidarity with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Countless women had similar stories. Often, like me, more than one. From unwanted advances, to forced sex acts, women are continually questioned, vilified, doubted, and keep their voices silent. And now even those who bravely tried to lend their voice were dismissed.

Today I am back to feeling enraged and anguished. We will never know what these other voices had to say.

The American justice system has been badly abused.

The nations highest court has been violated. Manipulated. Just as surely as Kavanaugh did with countless, nameless victims who remain unheard. This sham investigation enabled a fraudulent life time position on the Supreme Court for a serial sexual predator.

A sham investigation is a permanent stain on the U.S. It’s a cover up that will impact Americans for decades.

© Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream, 2021