ABC News’ “The View” co-hosts ripped GOP senators Thursday for backing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh against unproven 11th-hour sexual assault allegations, saying lawmakers send the message that “if you become a powerful man,” such crimes are OK.
“The message to boys is, ‘If you become a powerful man, you’re allowed to grope a woman,'” co-host Joy Behar (pictured above right) insisted. “This is what the message is to boys. And that’s a very bad message.”
Behar added that she doesn’t “believe these senators don’t care about their daughters. They’re just saying this for political purposes, to push Kavanaugh through.”
Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her some 36 years ago during a high school party in suburban Maryland.
Two other women, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, came forward in the days following Ford’s September 16 accusation.
Related: CNN Panel Explodes as Santorum Calls ‘BS’ on the Claims About Kavanaugh
All of the witnesses the women said would corroborate their claims either did not do so, contradicted them, or were unavailable. Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the accusations.
“But do you realize that not one male senator said he was worried about his daughters? Everyone’s worried about their sons,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg (pictured above left) claimed, adding, “If you are worried about your son, you want there to be investigative stuff happening so that you can show whether your son is innocent or guilty.”
FBI investigators conducted a supplemental background investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh. Senators were able to view the results Thursday.
The review released to the Senate on Thursday was the seventh the FBI conducted on Kavanaugh since he first entered government in 1998, working for special counsel Ken Starr’s Whitewater investigation during the Clinton administration.
Related: It’s a ‘Very Scary Time for Young Men in America,’ Trump Warns
“And I’m kind of shocked that everybody says, ‘Yes, it’s a hard time for men.’ But not for your daughters?” Goldberg said. “Because that means if your daughters get assaulted, you’re going to say, ‘Well, you’re my kid, but I don’t know if I’m going to take your word for it.'”
Conservative co-host Abby Huntsman did not jump on the GOP senator-bashing bandwagon.
“We’re never going to know what ultimately happened here. That’s just where we are,” Huntsman lamented.
After Behar insisted, “We might,” Huntsman replied, “I don’t know that we will.”
Behar, Huntsman, and co-host Sunny Hostin then argued over whether Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) or Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) was responsible for asking that the FBI probe be limited to one week.
“It doesn’t matter,” Goldberg interrupted. “The message to women is, ‘We’re not listening.’ That’s the message.”
Republican senators also have blasted the political timing of the 11th-hour sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh.
“‘Your word is not enough,'” Hostin added.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday, “It’s a very scary time for young men in America, when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of.” His son, Donald Trump Jr., told the Daily Mail the onslaught of #MeToo sexual assault allegations make him fear more for his sons than his daughters.
Republican senators also have blasted the political timing of the 11th-hour sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh, saying it invites unfair last-minute allegations against all future nominees, regardless of their party, for public service positions.
Watch more of the tense segment below:
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