Kellyanne Conway: ‘I’m a victim of sexual assault’

Kellyanne Conway cleared her throat for what she was about to say.

“I’m a victim of sexual assault,” President Donald Trump’s adviser told CNN on Sunday.

Ms. Conway and anchor Jake Tapper were discussing the political edges of sexual assault allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh in the wake of the Supreme Court nominee’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

“I feel very empathetic, frankly, for victims of sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape,” Ms. Conway said during the interview on “State of the Union.”

Then she paused and made her personal revelation.

“This is the first time I’ve ever heard you talk about something personal like that, and I’m really sorry,” said Mr. Tapper, who, like Ms. Conway herself, appeared taken aback.

“I’ve just had it,” she replied, referring to what she characterized as politically motivated accusations. Indeed, many — including Democratic senators — have seen Thursday’s testimony by a Kavanaugh accuser as a rallying cry for survivors of sexual abuse, saying that a vote for Judge Kavanaugh would be an endorsement of not only the alleged behavior but of a culture that condones it and dismisses its victims.

Ms. Conway said perpetrators should bear the responsibility for their actions but that conservatives have become targets for political score-settling.

“I don’t expect Judge Kavanaugh or Jake Tapper or [Arizona Republican Sen.] Jeff Flake or anybody to be held responsible for that,” she said, appearing to speak about her own experience. “You have to be responsible for your own conduct.”

She was referring to Mr. Flake days after he had been confronted by two women who said they were sexual abuse victims about his intention to vote for Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination.