'The notion that *every* woman must be believed is absurd': Megyn Kelly accused of victim-shaming Kavanaugh accuser Julie Swetnick
NBC News landed the first interview with Julie Swetnick, the third Brett Kavanaugh accuser, and while the network’s Megyn Kelly didn’t conduct the interview, she had a lot to say about it and the credibility of Swetnick, leading many to accuse her of victim shaming.
Here is the link to my interview with Kavanaugh accuser Julie Swetnick. @NBCNews @MSNBC https://t.co/ufuW3N6ebn
— Kate Snow (@tvkatesnow) October 2, 2018
The NBC personality has been all over the Kavanaugh coverage and posted several tweets about Swetnick on Monday, including one directed to the woman’s attorney, Michael Avenatti. In it, Kelly questioned Swetnick’s credibility. “Most women tell the truth, but not all do,” she wrote.
.@MichaelAvenatti Kavanaugh denies ur client’s accusations saying he d/n/even know her. Her credibility is fair game. That’s why the AP, The Oregonian, & others are looking into it. The #MeToo mvmt doesn’t shield accusers from tough Qs. Most women tell the truth, but not all do.
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 1, 2018
When one person commented that Kelly is enabling the “Male Misogynistic Culture,” Kelly — who previously accused former Fox News’ Roger Ailes of sexual harassment — replied to that as well.
Due process is not misogynistic. It happens to be the bedrock of our legal system. Ms. Swetnick was just on NBC changing her story dramatically from her sworn declaration. When an accuser has credibility issues, the A. is not to shame those who recognize it. https://t.co/FpiAigEXWn
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 2, 2018
When followers pointed out that it probably meant a lot to Kelly when she accused former Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes of assault and was believed, she cited the evidence she had to back her claim.
I knew I might not be. But my company’s attnys examined the evidence, which in my case included contemporaneous journal entries (which I gave), consultation w/an attny, a report to a supervisor, stmts to friends, and a slew of other women w/highly credible allegations. https://t.co/EAyU2klMtp
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 2, 2018
The last tweet from Kelly criticized the #BelieveSurvivors and #BelieveWomen movements. She wrote that “the notion that *every* woman must be believed is absurd,” citing the 2006 rape case involving Duke University lacrosse players.
Not every victim will have that kind of record, which is fine, but the notion that *every* woman must be believed is absurd. Just ask the 3 Duke lax players who were falsely accused of rape by a woman who virtually all of the media believed but who made the whole thing up.
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 2, 2018
Kelly’s series of tweets has people saying that she is victim-shaming Swetnick.
This is victim shaming and bad reporting. Shame on you Megyn Kelly! https://t.co/Z65qrKHpJu
— Kelly T B (@ktborgnis) October 1, 2018
Some found it especially egregious considering her claims against Ailes.
Nonetheless, I bet it meant a lot to YOU to be believed when it was your turn to speak up against the power head who was assaulting you.
— Kim Simons (@Kimmeebabe) October 2, 2018
And others noted that Swetnick — as well as Christine Blasey Ford, the first woman to accuse Kavanugh of sexual assault — were in high school at the time of the alleged incidents and didn’t have a collection of legal evidence to present like Kelly later did.
Jeesh Ms Kelly – Just stop. You were not in high school when you were abused. You had the benefit of harassment training and HR policies to help you build evidence. Ms Ford had no immediate support for her trauma. Her testimony is credible. Kavanaugh’s testimony reeks with lies.
— Tony Steiner (@TonyOrAnthonyS) October 2, 2018
Some were shocked she drew the comparison between Swetnick and the Duke case.
False rape accusations are 2 percent of 98 percent. What we are tired of is the immediate blame, shame and discredit of victims without evidence. It is constant.
— brandy dawn Demetrof (@BDemetrof) October 2, 2018
Others called for the cancellation of Kelly’s show.
I usually watch Megyn Kelly, but now it’s time NBC cancels her show. Se is a disaster. Shame on her!
— Jean-Marc Turgeon (@JeanMarcTurgeo1) October 1, 2018
Swetnick’s interview with NBC News aired on Monday night — and Kelly wasn’t the only one with questions about her story. NBC noted at the beginning of the interview with Swetnick — who previously claimed through her lawyer that the Supreme Court nominee was present during a “gang rape” in the early 1980s — that the network “has not been able to independently verify her claims” and that there were “things she told us on camera that differ from her written statements last week.” However, Kate Snow, who conducted the interview, noted that the network is “not discounting what she said in any way,” and said that “a lot of people” were working on corroborating her account.
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