Among one of the recent women-empowering movements is the #MeToo movement. This movement may be on its way to altering the path of political history. President Donald Trump’s nomination for the Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, was accused of sexual assault. The Senate’s vote may be delayed, with the Senate Judiciary Committee leaning towards a postpone.

President Trump nominated Kavanaugh, a federal appeals judge, on July 10, 2018, with his confirmation vote scheduled for Thursday, September 20, 2018.

The sexual assault allegation came forward via a letter. Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor in California, alleged that Kavanaugh assaulted her more than thirty years ago at a high school house party in Maryland in the early 1980s. According to Ford, a drunk Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, attempting to remove her clothing and stifling her screams. At the time, she was 15 and Kavanaugh was 17. Kavanaugh has denied all allegations and the White House has chosen not to comment further. The FBI declined to comment other than to say that Kavanaugh is not under criminal investigation.

While Ford’s case has been highlighted by the #MeToo movement, mixed feelings remain. Some feel that her allegations are unsubstantiated, while others believe that the FBI should investigate.

The Wall Street Journal ran an opinion titled “The #MeToo Kavanaugh Ambush,” saying, “This is simply too distant and uncorroborated a story to warrant a new hearing or to delay a vote.”

As for the actual Senate Judiciary Committee, all ten Democrats and one Republican have asked for the vote to be delayed. With twenty-one members on the Committee and eleven wanting to delay, the remaining Republicans cannot push forward to approve.  Even if the nomination was approved by the Committee, it remains doubtful whether the full Senate would go through as well. As of Monday afternoon, September 17, Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has neither confirmed nor denied that the vote is to be delayed.

Both Ford and Kavanaugh are reportedly willing to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Kavanaugh will talk by phone with Republican staff members of the Committee and a Committee aide. The Committee members themselves are not taking part in the call.

Aside from the politics of the possible delay in voting, questions are still being raised about the truth of the allegations and the ramifications of such a claim.

Lindsey Kim (11), who has been following news, said, “[I am] not saying that makes any of his actions excusable, but… this one misdemeanor, this one attempted rape… could change his life in the entirety of his career.”

In a wider scope, Ford’s speaking up may be the bridge for the #MeToo movement to affect and alter politics. Perhaps the movement will gain enough ground to begin to cause change in higher leadership.

   Gavin Piedra (9), who has also been keeping updated with the situation, said, “Because it gives way for more women to speak up and stand up, I think that #MeToo can definitely make an impact in the political world.”

As of now, a delaying of the vote is a real possibility, but the truth of Ford’s claims has not been determined.