Christine Blasey Ford Speaks Out for First Time Since Kavanaugh Testimony

Ten weeks after giving anemotional testimonyin front of the Senate Judiciary Committee against now-Supreme Court JusticeBrett Kavanaugh,Christine Blasey Fordis making her first public statements to honor another sexual assault survivor.

Ford presentedSports Illustrated‘s Inspiration of the Year Award to Rachael Denhollander, the first woman who publicly accused former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctorLarry Nassarof sexual abuse.

In September, Ford, a research psychologist and professor at Palo Alto University, claimed Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school party in the 1980s, where he allegedly pinned her down to a bed, groped her and tried to remove her clothes.

Kavanaugh, who wassworn inas a Supreme Court justice in October, has denied Ford’s allegations.

Rachel Denhollander.Rich Polk/Getty

Rachel Denhollander.John Sciulli/Getty

“I am honored to speak with you from afar about a woman I admire so much,” Ford also said in her video message. “A woman who suffered abuse as a vulnerable teenaged athlete who found the courage to talk publicly to stop the abuse of others. Her courage inspired other survivors to end their silence, and we all know the result.”

In January, Denhollander spoke boldly during Nassar’sdays-long hearingand criticized officials for allegedly turning a blind eye. “Women and girls banded together to fight for themselves because no one else would do it,” she said.

source: people.com