Dr. Christine Blasey Ford delivered her testimony before the hearing scheduled for 27th of September 2018 before the US Senate Judiciary Committee members regarding her accusations of being sexually assaulted by the US Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh while they were in high school.

Then Judge Brett Kavanugh presented his tearful opening remarks.

Link to Judge Kavanaugh’s transcript (Politico): Full transcript: Brett Kavanaugh’s opening statement to the Senate / Politico…

Here is the rest of the story…

On September 27, 2018, Elana Schor and Burgess Everett of Politico penned the following report, “Kavanaugh chokes up as he angrily defends against assault allegation” (“His testimony follows that of Christine Blasey Ford, who said she’s 100 percent certain that the Supreme Court nominee sexually assaulted her.”)

Excerpts:

“Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday lambasted sexual misconduct allegations against him as part of an “orchestrated political hit,” telling senators that his name had been “destroyed” by claims from Christine Blasey Ford and two other women who have come forward.”

“Kavanaugh, at turns defiant and choked up, delivered a combative defense of his innocence in the wake of what he portrayed as a systematic “character assassination” by his critics. His tone was a marked contrast to Ford’s earlier testimony on the world’s stage, from which she emerged largely unscathed and gave Republicans little ground to chip away at the credibility of her allegation.”

“Kavanaugh described Ford’s claim as “not only uncorroborated, but refuted by everyone she says” attended the 1982 party where the California-based professor claims he tried to force himself on her.”

“I’m not questioning whether Dr. Ford may have been sexually assaulted by some person at some place at some time. But I have never done this to her or to anyone. That is not who I am, and not who I was,” President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee said. “You may defeat me in the final vote. But you won’t make me quit.”

“Kavanaugh began his statement, before issuing a flat denial, by decrying his critics for ginning up allegations against him by Ford and two other women, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick. “This confirmation process has become a national disgrace,” the 53-year-old appeals court judge told the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

Before Kavanaugh spoke, a “terrified” and visibly emotional Ford described in vivid detail to rapt senators her claim that Kavanaugh assaulted her. Ford explained how Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge took her into a room at the party and how the alleged assault changed the course of her life.

“I believed he was going to rape me,” Ford said. “I believed Brett was going to accidentally kill me.”

“Subtly addressing questions from some Kavanaugh supporters about why she didn’t come forward earlier, Ford recalled that she had told herself she “should just move on” because she wasn’t raped. Ford later said that she was “100 percent” certain that it was Kavanaugh that assaulted her and nobody else.”

“Asked by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kavanaugh said the FBI wouldn’t reach a conclusion. He called it an “outrage that I wasn’t able to come immediately and clear my name” and complained about the flurry of allegations that have come out in the past 10 days.”

“He also exploded when Feinstein raised new allegations, deeming one from Swetnick “a joke. It’s a farce.”

As senators assessed Kavanaugh’s testimony, few were questioning Ford’s credibility.

“When Ford’s testimony ended, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) could be heard telling Ford: “Thank you for telling the truth.” Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), one of Kavanaugh’s staunchest supporters even praised Ford as he left the hearing room for a break as “articulate” and “an attractive person.”

“I found no reason to find her uncredible. Obviously there are gaps in her story,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas (R).”

“Cornyn said he expects Rachel Mitchell, an outside lawyer and veteran Arizona sex crimes prosecutor the GOP brought in to question Ford, to meet with Republicans later Thursday to go over the hearing. Senators said they expect Mitchell to also question Kavanaugh. As Hatch put it: “We think the more we stay out of it the better off it’s going to be.”

“While Democrats questioned Ford directly, Republicans outsourced the first portion of the hearing entirely to Mitchell. As the hearing wound down, Mitchell acknowledged the imperfect format and suggested a one-on-one interview would have been far preferable to five-minute increments of questioning alternating between Mitchell and Democratic senators.”

“Ford’s attorneys said they were representing her pro bono after Mitchell asked about who paid for Ford’s polygraph and other probing questions.”

“Mitchell questioned Ford about the details of her memory regarding the night and her recollections of it to the media, focusing at one point on media reports that Ford was unable to fly due in part to the consequences of her alleged trauma.”

“Ford held her ground, describing air travel as “anxiety-provoking” but telling senators that she did take a plane to Washington for her testimony.”

“Senate Republicans huddled together after the first portion of the hearing.”

“Democrats had a different view: “I don’t know how any of my Republican colleagues … could possibly vote for Brett Kavanaugh,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).”

“Mitchell used her time to ask Ford about potential discrepancies in her written statement before passing a polygraph exam in August, as well as in the July letter she sent Feinstein, the committee’s top Democrat. As the outside attorney kept an even tone, Ford sought to expand on her memories and told Mitchell there were no “corrections” to her allegation.”

“The GOP counsel questioned Ford on whether she was drinking before the gathering or was on any medication. Ford said no. She then told Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that she would not mix up Kavanaugh or Judge and recalled the “uproarious laughter” between them at her expense during the incident.”

“Ford offered only minor alterations and made no substantive changes to her story other than to ask the committee to probe when Judge, Kavanaugh’s friend, worked at a local supermarket to pinpoint when the incident occurred. She said she encountered Judge at a supermarket after the incident and he didn’t want to speak to her after previously being friendly.”

“Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) opened the hearing by apologizing to both Kavanaugh and Ford, citing the “vile threats” both have received since Ford’s allegation became public. Grassley then vocally defended the way the GOP has handled Ford’s claim, hailing its “thorough investigation.” Feinstein called for a reexamination of the treatment of women who publicly allege sexual misconduct against powerful men, 27 years after Anita Hill testified on her sexual harassment allegations against now-Justice Clarence Thomas.

She also referred to 2 additional allegations brought forward against Kavanaugh recently by other women; Grassley shot back that he was “sorry you brought up the unsubstantiated allegations of other people.” Two more women have come forward since to allege sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh: Deborah Ramirez, who told the New Yorker that she believes Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a party when both were in college; and Swetnick, a client of well-known anti-Trump lawyer Michael Avenatti who has signed an affidavit alleging Kavanaugh’s participation in multiple acts of sexual misbehavior.

With Kavanaugh short of the 50 votes to get confirmed and at least four GOP senators’ decision hinging on his and Ford’s performance, the hearing is likely to determine Kavanaugh’s fate in the Senate.

Link to report: Kavanaugh chokes up as he angrily defends against assault allegation