Rape crisis lines see deluge

A surge in calls seeking help poured into a rape crisis service center serving Denver and surrounding counties as the Senate Judiciary Committee explored allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee U.S. District Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

The hotline at the Blue Bench typically handles about eight calls a day. On Thursday, more than 15 people called the organization seeking help, said Jacquie Aamodt, the director of client services for Blue Bench.

Blue Bench provides services to sexual assault victims in Denver and the counties of Jefferson, Douglas, Adams, Arapahoe, Elbert, Broomfield, Gilpin and Lincoln.

Thursday, Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ford claimed that when they were teens Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, tried to rip off her clothes and muffled her cries for help. Kavanaugh denied the allegations.

The number of people seeking inperson services at Blue Bench also increased in the last two weeks, after Ford’s allegations became public, Aamodt said. About 42 individuals a week now are seeking such intake services. Prior to the allegations becoming public, about 28 individuals a week sought such help, she said.

“There seems to be an increase in volume with what has been going on,” Aamodt said. “Certainly, we’re hearing from our clients about how it has impacted them.”

She said many clients have reported that the emergence of the allegations triggered painful memories.

“They can’t escape it,” Aamodt said. “It’s everywhere they look. It’s reopening old wounds they thought they had dealt with.”

She said clients also said the hearing Thursday had reinforced feelings of selfblame.

“They have said that they never felt that they had an opportunity to share their voice or their story or had an opportunity to be believed,” Aamodt added.