Brett Kavanaugh

There's an inescapable conclusion behind all of the efforts by Republicans to exonerate Brett Kavanaugh from the charge that he sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford when they were both in high school: he did it. The crackpot doppelganger story, which seems to have been invented by an entire team of advisers, demonstrates just that. The fact that most press reports point to Kavanaugh as having been part of that planning points to it as well. That's a line of questioning for Kavanaugh that Democrats must pursue when and if this hearing takes place.

But underlying every action that Republicans have taken this week is the presumption that Kavanaugh is lying when he says he didn't try to rape Ford all those years ago. They spent all week trying to keep Ford from appearing, starting with scheduling it before even consulting with her or her attorney to find out if she would be available, to having Maine Sen. Susan Collins float the idea that the hearing be conducted like a trial where she would be cross-examined not by senators, but by an outside litigator hired just for that purpose, to Senate Leader Mitch McConnell declaring that the vote is a foregone conclusion, so Ford might as well not bother.

They're still trying to force unacceptable terms on her appearance, insisting that she not be questioned by the panel of senators, but by a outside counsel—a litigator—who would also be a woman. That's because they know how awful it would look for all those old white guys (and Mike Lee and Ben Sasse, who are still white awful without being old).

But they also know something else, something that their massive document coverup was unable to conceal: Kavanaugh is a liar. Everybody knows that. He made it abundantly clear in his sworn testimony before the committee earlier this month. They also all probably strongly suspect—if they don't know outright—that he did it. A hearing into the matter would likely reveal yet again that this guy is a liar. They don't want that to happen.

It's time to bring the Senate into the 21st century. Please help with a $3 contribution to our Senate candidates.