How Trump deals with sexual misconduct — denial

Donald Trump’s motto when dealing with women who accuse him of sexual misconduct is “deny, deny, deny.” Now, his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, is accused by Christine Blasey Ford of sexual assault committed when Mr. Kavanaugh was drunk at a party when he was 17 years old (“Kavanaugh, accuser showdown hearing not yet set: Dems, GOP arguing on witnesses,” Sept. 18).

If Mr. Kavanaugh is innocent, then of course he must deny the allegations. If, however, he did what he’s accused of and he admitted it, asked his victim for forgiveness, showed genuine contrition for a single act which, though terribly reprehensible and irresponsible, was committed when he was an inebriated teenager, America might, just might, have found a way to forgive him. As it stands, he has denied everything, effectively calling Ms. Ford a liar. He can no longer ask for forgiveness or be forgiven. And there is a witness.

Now, Mr. Kavanaugh and probably the witness must go before Congress and the American public and deny, deny, deny. If there is a hitch in their voices, a faltering gaze, a mumbled answer, or any other reason to doubt their stories, then Judge Kavanaugh will be just one more discredited Supreme Court wannabe on the trash heap of history. And President Trump will blame him for not lying forcefully enough; after all, denial has worked well for President Trump.

That and $100,000-plus payoffs for the women’s silence.