亲爱的格拉斯利主席和资深议员费恩斯坦:
三周前我在参议院作证时,明确阐述了自己的信念:公平的程序是正义和民/主的基石。
当时,我在司法委员面前回答问题超过31个小时,而且是在宣誓的条件下。 随后我又在闭门会议上回答了更多问题。 接下来的一周,我回复了1200多个书面提问,超过了在我之前所有最高法院候选人的总和。
只有在完成如此详尽的程序之后,我才通过新闻报道获悉一个对我的指控:一个发生在36年前,高中时期的指控。而且,几个月前就有人知道此事,但是在整个听证过程中却无人提及。 一开始,这是一个匿名指控,我已经明确而且坚决地否认了。 在原告露面之后,我再一次书面否定,并明确表示希望出席听证会。之后,我向委员会调查人员再次重复了我的否认 – 如果做了虚假陈述,我将面临刑事责任。 福特博士指证的所有在场的证人,都已经致函委员会,表示他们根本不记得该女士所说的派对。 我已经要求再一次去委员会宣誓作证,而且越快越好,以便福特博士和我的证词能公之于众。 我感谢格拉斯利主席安排周四举行听证会。
昨晚,媒体又报道了另一起虚假指控,依然是35年前,同样未经证实。而且,所谓该事件的目击者,和前一个的证人一样否认曾经发生过。目前有人正在竭尽全力寻找各种借口 – 任何借口 – 阻止任命程序的推进,防止对我的确认进行投票。
这些指控都是彻头彻尾的抹黑。 不但降低了民众交流的水准,而且对任何希望为国家服务的人来说,都已经构成威胁。 如此怪异而且明显的人格暗杀 – 如果放任不管而最终成功 – 将阻碍所有称职和善良的人报效国家,无论其政治理念如何。
正如我在听证会上所言,联邦法官必须是独立的,不受公众或政治压力的影响。 我将永远秉承这一理念。 我绝不会因为受到威胁而退出。 协调起来摧毁我的名誉不会让我退出。针对我家人的,卑鄙的暴力威胁不会让我退出。 最后一分钟的人格暗杀将注定失败。
我的职业生涯始终致力于为公众和正义服务,特别是促进妇女的平等和尊严。 我生命中每个阶段的女性都出面担保我的人品。 我很感激她们。 为了她们,为了我的家庭,我一定要捍卫我的正直和名声。 我期待周四到参议院作证。
此致,
布雷特·卡瓦諾
原文加注释:
Dear Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Feinstein:
【委员会主席由多数党担任,现在是共和党的Grassley。Ranking Member是指少数党中最年长资深的议员,目前是民主党的Feinstein。那封匿名信,就是Feinstein私藏了两个多月,最后一分钟抛出来的】
When I testified in front of the Senate three weeks ago, I explained my belief that fair process is foundational to justice and to our democracy.
At that time, I sat before the Senate Judiciary Committee for more than 31 hours and answered questions under oath. I then answered more questions at a confidential session. The following week, I responded to more than 1,200 written questions, more than have been submitted to all previous Supreme Court nominees combined.【31个小时就是整整四天,需要面对老谋深算的参议员们和布满陷阱的提问】
Only after that exhaustive process was complete did I learn, through the news media, about a 36-year-old allegation from high school that had been asserted months earlier and withheld from me throughout the hearing process. First it was an anonymous allegation that I categorically and unequivocally denied. Soon after the accuser was identified, I repeated my denial on the record and made clear that I wished to appear before the Committee. I then repeated my denial to Committee investigators—under criminal penalties for false statements. All of the witnesses identified by Dr. Ford as being present at the party she describes are on the record to the Committee saying they have no recollection of any such party happening. I asked to testify before the Committee again under oath as soon as possible, so that both Dr. Ford and I could both be heard. I thank Chairman Grassley for scheduling that hearing for Thursday. 【背景见下】
Last night, another false and uncorroborated accusation from 35 years ago was published. Once again, those alleged to have been witnesses to the event deny it ever happened. There is now a frenzy to come up with something—anything—that will block this process and a vote on my confirmation from occurring.
These are smears, pure and simple. And they debase our public discourse. But they are also a threat to any man or woman who wishes to serve our country. Such grotesque and obvious character assassination—if allowed to succeed—will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from service. 【debase our public discourse不好翻译,discourse就是discussion,conversation的意思,是更fancy一点的同义词。Debase是贬低,拉低。】
As I told the Committee during my hearing, a federal judge must be independent, not swayed by public or political pressure. That is the kind of judge I will always be. I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process. The coordinated effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out. The vile threats of violence against my family will not drive me out. The last-minute character assassination will not succeed.
I have devoted my career to serving the public and the cause of justice, and particularly to promoting the equality and dignity of women. Women from every phase of my life have come forward to attest to my character. I am grateful to them. I owe it to them, and to my family, to defend my integrity and my name. I look forward to answering questions from the Senate on Thursday.
Sincerely,
Brett M. Kavanaugh
简单背景:
川普提名保守派大法官卡瓦诺,民主党毫不掩饰,发誓要不惜一切代价阻挠。
所有努力失败之后,民主党在投票前夕抛出来一个36年前“强奸未遂”的指控,但是该女(铁杆民主党)什么细节都不记得,而且在民主党大牌律师的指导下一改再改。最后的版本是有五个人在场,但是现在除她之外所有四个人全部否认,其中还包括她自己的闺蜜,宣布不认识卡瓦诺,不记得有这个派对,也从来没听说过这件事。
该女士还一拖再拖,提出极其苛刻的条件,包括要求卡瓦诺先作证,她后出场。世界上哪有被告先辩护,原告再指控的事?就好比打棒球要求别人先挥棒子,你再投球?哪里来的这帮资深律师?
昨天晚上,更离奇的故事出台:卡瓦诺的耶鲁同学,指控他在新生派对上冲她裸露下体。但是她自己承认当时喝酒,记忆模糊,所以一开始根本不打算声张。但是民主党正在物色人选,听说这个怎么会放弃?在几个律师的”协助”下,此女苦思冥想六天,现在一口咬定是卡瓦诺。纽约时报,这个一贯反川的左媒,都觉得过于不可信而拒绝报道,因为他们采访了几十个同学,没有一个人证实该女的指控。
下图是Twitter验证的NYT记者发推:
当年马克吐温写竞选州长,一堆不同肤色的孩子一拥而上,抱着大腿叫爹。现在这招儿不好使了,能做亲子鉴定。
如今不用看小说,现实版,几个女人哭哭啼啼喊性侵,还是未遂,还记不清时间地点,还是30多年前,所以死无对证。
美国就这么被搞死?
200多年司法基础 – 无罪推定原则 – 难道就毁在我们这一代手里?
其实,每个人都可以出力,打击这种撒泼打滚的歪风邪气。
- 最简单,最有效,最一针见血的办法,就是中期选举出来投票!民主党现在不管不顾,无非就是以为能赚取选票,如果像2016那样再惨败一次,今后多少会收敛一些。
- 去Twitter和Facebook发帖,转推,支持卡瓦诺。
- 花几分钟时间联系参议院,敦促他们投票。不用联系民主党,他们已经铁了心。但是几个共和党议员是关键,可以给他们写信,打电话,发电子邮件:
- 司法委员会主席Grassley: https://www.grassley.senate.gov/
- 多数党领袖McConnell: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/
- 缅因州参议员Collins: https://www.collins.senate.gov/
- 亚利桑那参议员Flake: https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/ (此人虽然马上退休,但是还琢磨着竞选总统呢,所以不会不顾选民的声音)