Brett Kavanaugh hearing: Trump tweets support for nominee as hearing ends after Christine Ford says she is '100%' sure judge assaulted her
Dr Christine Ford tells senate she thought Brett Kavanaugh was 'going to rape and accidentally kill' her as Supreme Court judge says his wife and family have been left 'destroyed' by false allegations
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Christine Ford has told Congress that she believed Brett Kavanaugh was "going to rape her" in dramatic testimony over her sexual assault allegation against Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee.
Dr Ford said she was "100 per cent" sure it was Mr Kavanaugh who assaulted her.
Later, Mr Kavanaugh appeared in front of the same Senate panel, the judiciary committee, and denied the allegations calling the hearing a "circus". He said he believed Dr Ford had been assaulted at some point, but not by him.
Dr Ford said she was "terrified" of testifying, but that she believes it is her "civic duty". Before she began Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, commended her on coming forward.
The clash pitted her word against his. Members of the Senate, controlled 51-49 by Trump's fellow Republicans, must now decide whether to vote to confirm him after the extraordinary nearly nine-hour-long hearing. Senate Republicans planned to meet on Thursday night to discuss the next steps on the nomination.
“I swear today, under oath, before the Senate and the nation, before my family and God, I am innocent of this charge,” Mr Kavanaugh told the Judiciary Committee later.
Calling himself a victim of “grotesque and obvious character assassination,” Mr Kavanaugh, speaking passionately, said he “unequivocally and categorically” denied Dr Ford's allegation.
“I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process,” Mr Kavanaugh added.
Writing on Twitter after the hearing, President Donald Trump said of Mr Kavanaugh, “His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats' search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote!”
"Had you had anything to drink?" Ms Mitchell asked Dr Ford about her state ahead of the alleged assault.
"Not at all," Dr Ford said.
They are now discussing "the gathering" as Ms Mitchell asked about the "atmosphere."
"Mr Kavanaugh and Mr Judge had been clearly inebriated," Dr Ford said, adding she can sketch a floor plan of the home.
Senator Patrick Leahy said: "we were here 27 years ago with Anita Hill. The Senate failed her...I said I believed her," adding he hoped that would not happen again with Dr Ford and her fellow accusers.
"Bravery is contagious."
"We owe you a debt of gratitude," he said.
Mr Leahy asked again if there was any way Dr Ford could have "mixed up" anyone else with Mr Kavanaugh and Mr Judge.
"Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter, the uproarious laughter of the two" men during the alleged assault, the psychology professor said.
"At my expense...they were laughing with each other. Two friends having a really good time with another," she said, tearfully.
"I'm used to being collegial," Dr Ford said as the committee discussed taking breaks.
Ms Mitchell resumes questioning and asks Dr Ford to clarify how many people were at the party and who they were.
"Have you told us everything you remember about it?," she asked.
"I believe so," Dr Ford said after a moment of thought, but offered to answer any questions she could.
"I remember hearing them walk down the stairs and knew I would have to walk past them to get out of the house," Dr Ford said.
Ms Mitchell is parsing out details Dr Ford had written in the letter and what said during her polygraph test.
"No one should [face] disparaging comments simply for telling the truth," Senator Dick Durbin said.
"You had absolutely nothing to gain" by coming forward, Mr Durbin said, reminding the public of the death threats and smearing of Dr Ford's character by her critics and those supporting Mr Kavanaugh.
"Dr Ford, with what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?," Mr Durbin asked.
Dr Ford said: "100%"
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