Summary

In Chapter 9, though Ford had yet to officially come forward, word of her account spread, as did protests against Kavanaugh's nomination. Because the public had discovered Senator Dianne Feinstein had a letter detailing Ford's allegations, pressures to reveal the specifics intensified. Increasingly fearful her account would be misconstrued, Ford decided to go public, hoping the affair would die down the sooner she revealed it. Ultimately the Post printed the story. The piece was immediately polarizing, #MeToo supporters defending Ford, Kavanaugh supporters taking the judge's side.

Initially Trump did not speak against Ford, but when Kavanaugh denied ever having abused Ford, Trump publicly belittled her character and undermined her story. An increasing number of voices began denouncing Ford's story as part of a left-wing conspiracy to victimize Kavanaugh and threaten his name and nomination. Despite this onslaught of noise in response to the...