I'm not doubting the connection between Kennedy's atrocious history and the absurdity of his questioning anyone else's ethics. The article seems to imply that Mrs. Alito was crying FOR Mary Jo Kopechne which is at the very least an assumption.
Well, I didn't get that, except in the sense that she was caught up in the irony of the situation. While we are speculating on her motives, let us not forget anger. Women have been known to shed tears of anger. ;-)