Controversy surrounding Kavanaugh nomination reaches governor’s race

September 25, 2018 6:19 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The controversy surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s supreme court nomination and allegations of past sexual assault has now reached the governor’s race.

Some Gina Raimondo (D – RI) supporters are calling on Cranston Mayor Allan Fung (Republican Nominee) and Joe Trillo (Independent Nominee) to take a stand, arguing they have remained noticeably quiet on this.

“Anyone, regardless of their party, needs to speak up on this,” said Rhode Island Democratic Party Women’s Caucus Chair Sulina Mohanty. She joined Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Deb Debare and State Sen. Gayle Goldin (D – Providence) at a press conference Tuesday.

The trio praised the governor’s calls for a full FBI investigation into the accusers’ claims, calling on Fung and Trillo to give their take – arguing it’s the governor’s job to deal with the outcomes of supreme court rulings.

“There are women who range ideologically in their views but have all experienced sexual violence,” Goldin explained. “They need to know who’s going to stand up for them and right now the only person that I know for sure if going to stand up for them is Governor Raimondo.”

Trillo argues Kavanaugh’s nomination has no place in the governor’s race since it’s out of the state’s control, describing the press conference as “political grandstanding at its best.”

Still, the former republican state representative is concerned about the allegations against Kavanaugh. He is taking the Senate Judiciary’s lead, saying if the committee ultimately feels the FBI should step in, then that should happen. “I’m not going to rush to judgment one way or the other,” he told ABC6 News. “I think the process needs to play out. We need to take these allegations very seriously and go the next step, depending after the testimony.”

Fung sent a statement: “As a former prosecutor, I know that it takes a lot for victims to come forward. Every one of them should be able to tell their story, and then Mr. Kavanaugh should have a chance to respond. I am glad the Senate is pausing to hear these women out.”