National Sexual Assault Hotline Sees Sharp Surge In Calls Amid Kavanaugh Allegations

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reported a 42 percent increase in calls on Friday and Saturday.
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The number of callers to the National Sexual Assault Hotline has surged following the surfacing of sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), which operates the hotline, told CNN’s Brian Stelter over the weekend that calls had been “up 42 percent on Friday and Saturday compared to an average Friday and Saturday.”

The reported spike in calls came on the heels of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a party when the two were teenagers ― and the attacks and skepticism she’s faced from the White House, top Republican lawmakers and others since she went public with her story.

President Donald Trump, who himself has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, went after Ford on Twitter on Friday, questioning why police hadn’t “immediately” been called if the assault had been “as bad as she says.”

The tweet prompted the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport to go viral as survivors of sexual violence came forward with their own stories.

RAINN responded directly to the president with a pointed tweet of its own.

On Sunday, a second woman, Deborah Ramirez, came forward to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.

The judge has categorically denied both accusations and the White House dismissed Ramirez’s allegations as being part of a “coordinated smear campaign.”

As The Cut noted, the National Sexual Assault Hotline saw a similar surge in calls in 2016 after Trump’s infamous sexual assault remarks made headlines.

RAINN told Reuters earlier this year that the Me Too movement had also spurred victims to reach out in record numbers.

If you need help, you can call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at
800-656-4673. You can also visit the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.

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