Appearing on MSNBC Friday afternoon, journalist Tim Phelps, who broke the story of Anita Hill’s sexual harassment claims against Clarence Thomas in 1991, argued for Christine Blasey Ford to file criminal charges against Brett Kavanaugh with police in Montgomery County, Maryland based on her 36-year-old sexual assault allegations against the Supreme Court nominee.
Reacting to a tweet from President Trump questioning why Ford did not report her claims to the authorities when alleged assault occurred in 1982, Phelps told fill-in anchor Kristen Welker: “...there’s no statute of limitations on felony sexual assault in Maryland. The President today has challenged Dr. Ford to come forward with documentation of her allegations. The road is still open to her to file charges in Montgomery County...”
Phelps seemed excited by the prospect, declaring: “Can you imagine a Supreme Court nominee going forward if charges are filed against him?” Welker replied: “Makes it a lot more difficult, that is for sure.”
Later in the 1:00 p.m. ET hour show, Welker conducted an exclusive interview with Ford’s sister-in-law, Sandra Ford Mendler, eagerly asking: “And we just spoke with someone who said that the President’s tweet this morning was, in fact, so explosive that there’s a scenario by which Dr. Ford would actually file charges now against Judge Kavanaugh. Do you think that’s a possibility?”
Mendler seemed to discount the idea: “Well, she didn’t come forward filing charges. She came forward as a concerned citizen saying, ‘You’re doing a background check, this is information you should have.’”
Neither Phelps nor Welker bothered to explain what corroborating evidence the Maryland authorities would have to actually charge Kavanaugh with a crime, other than Ford’s accusation. Apparently idle speculation and wishful thinking is what passes for news at this point.
Here are excerpts of the September 21 coverage during MSNBC Live With Craig Melvin:
1:40 PM ET
(...)
KRISTEN WELKER: And, Tim, as you hear, that very personal account of what a long road it is back from such an attack, such an alleged assault, in this case, still alleged, you’re saying that this tweet is, in fact, explosive and could potentially lead to charges? What do you mean by that? What do you know?
TIM PHELPS: Well, Kristen, there’s no statute of limitations on felony sexual assault in Maryland. The President today has challenged Dr. Ford to come forward with documentation of her allegations. The road is still open to her to file charges in Montgomery County, and unlike the FBI, the President can’t determine what Montgomery County will do with those charges. Can you imagine a Supreme Court nominee going forward if charges are filed against him?
WELKER: Makes it a lot more difficult, that is for sure. You have this very unique perspective, because as we have said, you first broke the Anita Hill story.
(...)
1:57 PM ET
KRISTEN WELKER: And we just spoke with someone who said that the President’s tweet this morning was, in fact, so explosive that there’s a scenario by which Dr. Ford would actually file charges now against Judge Kavanaugh. Do you think that’s a possibility?
SANDRA FORD MENDLER [CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD’S SISTER-IN-LAW]: Well, she didn’t come forward filing charges. She came forward as a concerned citizen saying, “You’re doing a background check, this is information you should have.” And I think every citizen that, you know, as we go forward, you know, people should be encouraged to participate. And it’s a terrible message to say that we’re gonna shoot the messenger. It’s terrible.
(...)
