USA Today edits Kavanaugh piece with ‘pedophilia’ hints, gets even more backlash

The article by Erik Brandy, which was published on USA Today’s website on Friday, revolved around Kavanaugh’s words during a Senate testimony on Thursday that he may never be able to coach his daughters’ basketball team anymore due to the sex assault accusations and the whole scandal surrounding his Supreme Court nomination.

The author questioned if the nominee should ever coach youngsters and alluded to the case of Larry Nassar, a US Gymnastics team coach who was found guilty of multiple sexual assaults, despite it not having any relation to the issue. Kavanaugh, 53, is accused by college professor Christine Blasey Ford, 52, over an incident which allegedly occurred 36 years ago, while they were both high school students.

The article caused a huge backlash from conservative commentators online and, in an unusual move, the outlet made significant changes to the piece.

The headline has been changed to clarify that it was an opinion, while the text is now opening up with an editor’s note, which reads: “Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh has told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee he loves coaching his daughters’ girls basketball teams, but said in testimony Thursday “thanks to what some of you on this side of the committee have unleashed, I may never be able to coach again.” The intent of this commentary was to address that question. The column was re-edited to more closely reflect that intent and labeled to reflect it as the writer’s opinion.”

Several paragraphs calling on Kavanaugh to stay away from youth sports have also been deleted.

“The US Senate may yet confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, but he should stay off basketball courts for now when kids are around,” one of the removed passages read.

The paragraph that concluded Brandy’s original piece was also dropped. “The nation is deeply divided. Sometimes it feels like we don’t agree on anything anymore. But credibly accused sex offenders should not coach youth basketball, girls or boys, without deeper investigation. Can’t we all agree on that?” it used to read.

The Kavanaugh saga has been the focus of media attention over the last few weeks with many US outlets not shy of taking sides. But USA Today became the first to actually make considerable changes under public pressure.

READ MORE: Senate Judiciary Committee asks FBI, DOJ to investigate Kavanaugh accuser for lying

However, the amendments didn’t seem to appease the critics, who said that the move changed nothing and expressed hope that USA Today should still be sued over the “shameful” article and apologize to Kavanaugh.

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