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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
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!”
Christine Blasey Ford said she underwent the polygraph exam near a hospital on the day of her grandmother’s funeral, before adding the polygraph may have occurred the day after.
She said she received no assistance in writing her initial letter for the polygraph, and assumed she was being recorded during the evaluation.
The hearing has gone on a 30-minute break after questioning from numerous lawmakers and Rachel Mitchell, the sex crimes prosecutor tasked with interviewing both Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh.
Sen Bernie Sanders has released this tweet amid the historic Kavanaugh-Ford hearings.
"We should not be attacking and disparaging the women who have come forward with serious allegations against Judge Kavanaugh," Mr Sanders wrote. "Trump's comments are disgusting."
Here’s video of Christine Blasey Ford describing her decision to contact the Washington Post, adding that she was “panicking” over Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination process.
Donald Trump Jr has criticised Dr Ford on Twitter, writing “I’m no psychology professor but it does seem weird to me that someone could have a selective fear of flying.”
Fox News’ Chris Wallace has said his two daughter told him “stories that I have never heard before about things that happening in high school and hadn’t told their parents,” as Dr Christine Blasey Ford testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee about her alleged sexual assault.
People are reportedly tuning into the historic hearings across the country. In this tweet posted by CNN, it appears plane passengers are even watching Christine Blasey Ford testify while travelling to San Francisco.
During the short break, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand told reporters "I don't know how any Republican watching this testimony can vote for Brett Kavanaugh.
Hearings have resumed among the Senate Judiciary Committee, with Christine Blasey Ford testifying about an alleged sexual assault she said she endured from Brett Kavanaugh while the two were high school students over 30 years ago.
Dr Ford will continue to be questioned by numerous Democratic lawmakers, as well as Rachel Mitchell, the sex crimes prosecutor the Republican majority hired to interview both Mr Kavanaugh and his accuser.
Dr Ford said she has no political motivation for coming forward, reminding Senator Mazie Hirono that she “was trying to get the information” to the Senate Judiciary Committee while “there was a list” of “other qualified candidates”.
Senator Hirono went on to criticise Republicans for hiring sex crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, who she said was not asking specific questions about the assault but instead attempting to discredit her account of the alleged sexual assault.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments