A petition demanding the delay of confirming Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh garnered more than 53,000 signatures as of Monday morning.
Natasha Goldman, a constituent of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, started the petition Sunday night, shortly after a woman publicly accused Kavanaugh of drunkenly sexually assaulting her at a high school party more than three decades ago.
Goldman’s petition calls for the Senate Judiciary Committee to launch a full investigation into the allegations made by Christine Blasey Ford, the now 51 year-old professor in northern California, and delay the confirmation vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination.
“Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, Supreme Court nominee, stands accused of a crime, and it will take a public outcry to ensure these allegations are investigated before the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on his confirmation,” Goldman wrote in the petition description.
Ford wrote to lawmakers and the Washington Post tip line about the assault accusation, but did not go public with the story until Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings were underway. She revealed her identity over the weekend.
The goal of the petition backers is to reach 75,000 signatures.
“To do anything less than a full investigation is a slap in the face to the millions of Americans who have suffered a sexual assault in their lifetimes,” Maine resident and petition signatory Abby King wrote.
“I’m signing because this nomination has been too rushed and not thorough enough or given enough time,” another signatory, Lynn Collins, wrote. “Now a serious allegation is afoot and there needs to be time to investigate. This is a lifetime appointment and deserves more vetting of documents and an investigation of the allegations.”
