Brett Kavanaugh confirmation: Democrats call to delay vote on Trump's Supreme Court pick as he denies sexual assault allegation

Accuser Christine Blasey Ford says she is willing to 'testify in public' about her accusations

Kavanaugh sexual misconduct accuser willing to testify before congress, says her lawyer

The confirmation of Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court has been thrown into doubt, with a woman having accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.

Christine Blasey Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University, is willing to testify about the claims she has levelled at Mr Kavanaugh, her lawyer Debra Katz has said.“She is willing to do whatever is necessary,” she told CBS. “She’s willing to do what she needs to do, she’s willing to hopefully tell her story in a manner that is a fair proceeding.”

Ms Ford, who made the allegations several months ago but only agreed that her name be made public at the weekend in an interview with the Washington Post, said Mr Kavanaugh tried to force himself on her at a high school party three decades ago.

Amid mounting calls from Democrats and some Republicans to delay a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee that is scheduled for Thursday, Mr Kavanaugh has issued several adamant denials.

“This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes—to her or to anyone,” he said.

“Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday.

“I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.”

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Key Points

• Democrats call for delay to Senate confirmation vote
• Republican Senate Judiciary Committee Chair says Christine Ford 'deserves to be heard'

[17 September 2018 16:35 · Steve Anderson]

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the battle over the confirmation of Donald Trump's pick to sit upon the the Supreme Curt - Brett Kavanaugh.

[17 September 2018 16:36 · Steve Anderson]

All 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have called on the panel's Republican chairman to postpone Thursday's planned vote on Mr Kavanaugh, a day after a woman accusing him of sexual misconduct went public with her allegations.

The panel should decide on the appropriate next steps in a bipartisan way only after the Federal Bureau of Investigation has completed its review of the woman's accusations, the Democrats wrote in a letter to committee chairman Senator Chuck Grassley. 

[17 September 2018 16:36 · Steve Anderson]

Here is our latest report on today's events:

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[17 September 2018 16:39 · Steve Anderson]

Earlier, White House advisor Kellyanne Conway said that Ms Ford should be "heard".

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[17 September 2018 16:43 · Steve Anderson]

The senior Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer has called the sexual misconduct allegation extremely credible and said the FBI should reopen its background investigation on the judge.

A planned vote on Mr Kavanaugh's nomination should be put on hold while the FBI investigates the allegation against President Donald Trump's nominee for the nation's highest court, Mr Schumer said.

"Trying to rush this through on Thursday is an insult to the women of America and an insult to the majesty of the Supreme Court of the United States," Mr Schumer told ABC's The View, referring to a planned vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

[17 September 2018 17:08 · Steve Anderson]

President Donald Trump's eldest son has been condemned for appearing to mock a woman's sexual assault allegations against his father's nominee for the Supreme Court. 

Christine Blasey Ford, a college professor, has come forth with an allegation that Brett Kavanaugh, the president's nominee, assaulted her at a party more than 30 years ago. 

Donald Trump Jr. posted an image on Instagram with the caption “Judge Kavanaugh sexual assault letter found by Dems...” 

The photo attached shows a crumpled-up piece of notebook paper with a scribbled message: “Hi Cindy will you be my girlfriend, Love Bret.” 

The note has boxes to check for “yes” or “no” and seems to compares Mr Kavanaugh's accuser to a school crush. 

[17 September 2018 17:18 · Andrew Buncombe]

Greetings from Capitol Hill - abuzz with rumours and questions. The media is camped outside the office of Senator Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. It will be up to him to decide whether to delay Thursday's confirmation or whether to hear from either Mr Kavanaugh or his accuser. 

[17 September 2018 17:19 · Andrew Buncombe]

The Independent spoke to a member of staff from Mr Grassley's office who said the senator was at work today and would be returning to his office at some point. He said there was nothing scheduled at the moment, in terms of making a statement.

[17 September 2018 17:31 · Andrew Buncombe]

Among those senators calling for a delay of Mr Kavanaugh's nomination are Democrat Joe Donnelly, from the heartland state of Indiana:

[17 September 2018 17:39 · Andrew Buncombe]

Senator Grassley has just issued a statement saying that Ms Ford, the woman accusing Mr Kavanaugh, "deserves to be heard".