Today's hearing for #SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford is set to start at 10am. You can watch live here: judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/nomin…
Senators will get five minutes to question each witness, which they can cede to staff counsel. From the committee on logistics:
Senators will get five minutes to question each witness, which they can cede to staff counsel. From the committee on logistics:
Make sure to follow @pdmcleod, who is in the hearing room this morning. And check in here: buzzfeednews.com/article/buzzfe… for updates
Senate Republicans have brought in Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell to handle Qs from their side for Kavanaugh and Ford: buzzfeednews.com/article/claudi… Notwithstanding Mitchell's role and the rhetoric about everyone having their "day in court," I can assure you this nothing like court
Grassley has gaveled in and the hearing is underway. Here are the prepared remarks submitted by Kavanaugh and Ford: buzzfeednews.com/article/blakem…
Christine Blasey Ford has been sworn in and is reading from her prepared remarks. You can read along here: buzzfeednews.com/article/blakem…
Ford: "I am here today not because I want to be. I am terrified."
Ford: "I am here today not because I want to be. I am terrified."
Ford is growing emotional as she describes the alleged attack by Kavanaugh at the house party in 1982. Here's the section from her prepared remarks:
Rachel Mitchell, the Arizona prosecutor handling questions for Senate Republicans, begins by saying that she was struck that Ford seemed "terrified" delivering her opening remarks.
"I just wanted to let you know I'm very sorry. That's not right," Mitchell says.
"I just wanted to let you know I'm very sorry. That's not right," Mitchell says.
Five minutes goes fast. Mitchell was just starting to question Ford about elements of the letter sent to Feinstein detailing the alleged assault when time ran out and Grassley had to go over to Feinstein for her Qs. They'll alternate Qs between Republican and Dem members
Feinstein asks Ford if this could be a case of mistaken identity. "Absolutely not," Ford replies.
Mitchell is now walking Ford through each step of the day of the alleged assault. Mitchell asks if Ford had anything to drink or had taken medication before going to the party, and Ford says no. Ford said she recalled Kavanaugh and Mark Judge "had clearly been drinking"
Responding to Leahy questions about what she remembers, Ford grows emotional again as she talks about remembering Kavanaugh and Judge laughing.
"I was underneath one of them while the two laughed. Two friends having a really good time with one another."
"I was underneath one of them while the two laughed. Two friends having a really good time with one another."
During Mitchell's next round of questioning, she digs into what Ford remembered hearing in the house at different times, including after the alleged attack. Ford said she recalled hearing Kavanaugh and Judge talking and laughing as they went downstairs
Responding to Qs from Durbin, Ford said she saw Mark Judge six to eight weeks later, and that he looked "nervous" and like he didn't want to talk to her. Grassley is now taking a break
The hearing has resumed. Mitchell begins by showing Ford maps depicting the houses of people who Ford said were at the party in '82 in relation to the country club Ford says she was at the day of the alleged assault. Ford says no one has come forward to say they drove her home
Mitchell asks Ford about her therapist's notes — Ford says she summarized them to WaPo, doesn't remember if she actually gave the records to the reporter. Ford says Kavanaugh's name wasn't in the notes
Following up on Ford's last exchange with Mitchell about her therapist's notes, this is the reporter who wrote the original WaPo story -->
Noting that Ford says the alleged assault contributed to anxiety and PTSD issues, Mitchell asks if there's anything else that would have contributed to that in her life. Ford says nothing she can think of, and "nothing as striking as that event"
Mitchell asked Ford why she contacted WaPo. Ford said she was "panicking" about timing, and getting different advice about going to the press, hiring counsel, going to her congressperson. Ford said she decided to go the "civic route" and contact her rep, and also contact WaPo
Ford says she only contacted the Washington Post, and not the NY Times (her friends had suggested both, she said) because she wasn't interested in the media route and thought one was enough
Ford recalls interviewing lawyers sitting in her car in the driveway and a Walgreens parking lot — she said she was staying with her parents, but didn't talk to them about it. Mitchell asked her why she decided to hire counsel. Ford said people advised her to get advice
During questions from Mitchell about legal costs, one of Ford's lawyers jumps in to say that both of the lawyers with her are representing Ford pro bono
Ford said that she dated the guy — Ford won't say his name — who was the subject of Ed Whelan's now-infamous twitter thread suggesting it was a case of mistaken identity, and that he was a connection between her and Kavanaugh
Christine Blasey Ford has finished testifying. Need to catch up on the past four hours? Check out all the updates from the @BuzzFeedNews team here: buzzfeednews.com/article/buzzfe… The committee is taking a break before hearing from Kavanaugh
The hearing has resumed, Kavanaugh has been sworn in. White House Counsel Don McGahn is sitting in the row behind him
Kavanaugh's opening remarks are different from the written statement he submitted. Kavanaugh is angry. He says that in the days leading up to the hearing, "my family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed by vicious and false additional accusations"
Kavanaugh: "This confirmation process has become a national disgrace. The constitution gives the senate an important role in the confirmation process, but you have replaced advice and consent with search and destroy"
Kavanaugh, looking at the Democratic side of the room: "I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process. You've tried hard. You've given it your all. No one can question your effort."
Kavanaugh says he has no "ill will" towards Ford, and grew emotional as he spoke about his 10-year-old daughter saying they should pray for Christine Blasey Ford
I've covered the DC Circuit for years, and been at numerous hearings where Kavanaugh was on the panel. His demeanor at this hearing so far is very, very different from his demeanor in court. Some judges get fiery/wound up on the bench, I've never seen that with Kavanaugh
Kavanaugh concludes: "My family and I intend no ill will toward Dr. Ford or her family, but I swear today under oath before the Senate and the nation, before my family and god, I am innocent of this charge."
Kavanaugh appears furious and fed up, and is expressing incredulity at questions from Feinstein and also Rachel Mitchell
Leahy asked Kavanaugh if he is the "Bart O'Kavanaugh" in Mark Judge's book. Kavanaugh says the book was a fictionalized account. Leahy asks again if he is Bart O'Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh: "You'd have to ask him"
Mitchell asks if Kavanaugh would have documented a gathering like the one Ford described in his calendar. Kavanaugh says yes. Mitchell asks if Kavanaugh has been contacted by local police re: Ford's allegations. He says no
Graham is on a tear, he isn't giving his time to Mitchell. To Kavanaugh: "Would you say you've been through hell?" Kavanaugh: "I've been through hell and then some." Graham: "This is going to destroy the ability of good people to come forward because of this crap"
The hearing has resumed after a break, and Kavanaugh begins by apologizing to Sen. Klobuchar for responding to her Q about whether he'd ever blacked out by asking if she had. Kavanaugh: "This is a tough process. I'm sorry I did that." Klobuchar says she appreciates that
It's been a little while since we heard from the prosecutor brought in by judiciary committee Republicans to handle questioning from their side, Rachel Mitchell. Graham, Cornyn, and Hatch have all questioned Kavanaugh directly
Coons goes back to whether the FBI should have looked into the allegations, says he worries about the credibility of the court absent that. Kavanaugh points to the committee's investigation, and why he didn't want to delay a hearing: "Every day has been a lifetime."
Kavanaugh is chastising Blumenthal for asking about the "Renate Alumnius" reference in his high school yearbook. Kavanaugh has denied it was a sexual reference. "Don't bring her name up," Kavanaugh says. "She's a great person"
Blumenthal goes back to Kavanaugh saying recent events were fueled by anger about Trump, revenge by the Clintons, and $ from left-wing groups. Did Kavanaugh think that was Ford's motivation, Blumenthal asked. Kavanaugh says the committee destroyed Ford's wish for confidentiality
Clock ran out for Blumenthal just as he asked Kavanaugh if he believed Anita Hill. Following Qs from Crapo about how the FBI background check process works, Grassley is taking a break
Senate Republicans Still Think Outside Counsel Was A Good Idea, Even If Her Five-Minute Segments Were Awkward buzzfeednews.com/article/nidhip… by @nidhiprakash & @LissandraVilla
Responding to Hirono's Qs about his drinking habits in college, Kavanaugh responds by saying he studied hard — notes that he got into #1 ranked Yale Law School — and was busy with sports
Booker is pressing Kavanaugh about whether he wished Ford had remained silent and what he thought were her motivations in coming forward. Kavanaugh is responding by pointing to witnesses who said they didn't recall the alleged attack
Cruz doesn't ask Kavanaugh any questions, he uses his time to defend Kavanaugh and accuse Dems of not treating Kavanaugh with respect. He repeats the criticism that Feinstein should have acted sooner on Ford's allegations, and argues only Feinstein/Eshoo could have leaked info
Feinstein says she didn't leak the letter, and says her staff didn't leak it (after checking with a staffer behind her). Feinstein notes the letter itself didn't leak, the allegations did, and that Ford had talked to friends
Nearly nine hours after Grassley first gaveled in, the hearing is over. For a complete rundown on today's event, read our running thread of live updates: buzzfeednews.com/article/buzzfe…
Trump weighs in with support for Kavanaugh: "His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. ... The Senate must vote!"
