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!”
Rachel Mitchell has continued questioning Christine Blasey Ford, repeating her line of questioning surrounding the polygraph exam and who paid for it to have been conducted.
“Her lawyers have paid for the polygraph,” her lawyer said. “As is routine.”
Dr Ford said she was also aware of several GoFundMe campaigns to help pay for her legal fees, which she said she has not yet looked into how to acquire and disseminate those funds.
Christine Blasey Ford said she did not authorise the release of her 30 July letter that was provided to Dianne Feinstein and was unaware of how the letter became public.
She said she reached out to the Washington Post and agreed to a sit down interview after reporters began showing up at her home and workplace.
Corey Booker began questioning Christine Blasey Ford, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee, “This is not a court room. This is not a legal proceeding.”
He asked how Dr Ford’s children and family were handling the controversy, to which she replied they were doing well, adding, “We have a very supportive community”.
Earlier, the Democratic senator provided Dr Ford a cup off coffee.
A McClatchy reporter has said she observed Republican Senator Lindsey Graham heading towards an elevator during the break when an apparent sexual assault survivor told him she had been raped.
“I’m sorry. Tell the cops,” he reportedly responded.
Dr Ford said several associates provided her references for attorneys to work with her through a hearing and investigation, including aides from Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office.
When asked whether she would be willing to submit to further extensive questioning from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dr Ford responded, “Absolutely.”
She also said several members of her community have helped provided assistance for security, and her lawyers added that they were working pro-bono.
Rachel Mitchell has begun a line of questioning about the friend Dr Ford and Brett Kavanaugh supposedly shared, who she has said she “went out with” for a brief period of time before the alleged assault took place.
Dr Ford then said there were at least “four or five” parties she had attended with Mr Kavanaugh, but had not witnessed any sexual assault during those instances.
Kamala Harris has begun her questioning, telling Christina Blasey Ford, “You are not on trial.”
She then laid out the timeline of Dr Ford’s actions prior to Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, noting how she reached out to her congresswoman once the judge’s name was added to a public list of potential candidates.
“I believe you. I believe you,” The California Democrat added.
“You have called fro an independent FBI investigation,” Kamala Harris told Dr Ford. “Brett Kavanaugh has not.”
The California Democrat urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to renew an investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
“This could also have been investigated in the last 11 days since you came forward,” she added, naming the several alleged witnesses who could be subpoenaed to testify, including Mark Judge.
“You clearly have nothing to gain from what you have done. You have been a true patriot,” Kamala Harris said, as Christine Blasey Ford began crying.
Rachel Mitchell then resumed questioning, telling Dr Ford, “We’re almost done.”
“Thank you,” Dr Ford responded.
Christine Blasey Ford acknowledged the witnesses of her story had not fully corroborated her story, saying “it was a very unremarkable party” and understood why they may not remember what she allegedly suffered.
“Nothing remarkable happened to them because they were downstairs,” adding “I would expect” Mark Judge could recall the alleged assault.
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