Blasey Ford's lawyers have no patience for Mitchell's bullshit after the break. "Let me put an end to this misery. Her lawyers paid for the polygraph." followed by the second lawyer saying, "As is typical."
They are going to run to the ground the fees for this polygraph test while letting Mark Judge read Superman comics in Delaware unmolested.
For not being a trial, this is sure a show trial.
"You've asked her not to guess, and now you're asking her what's possible." and MItchell asks "Is that an objection, counselor?" and appeals to the chair. This is LUDICROUS.
MItchell is dragging Blasey Ford down into a well of detailed information about information releases and timings of interviews and whether people who worked with her talked to people in congress -- all of which is irrelevant to anything but an attack on Blasey Ford's character.
Cory Booker is using his time to focus on Christine Blasey Ford's strength & willingness to do her patriotic duty which has the very composed Doctor Ford holding back tears.
Booker: How do you feel that the things that should have been done... have not been honored in this investigation?
Ford: I wish I could be more helpful... and others could be more helpful... so we could collaborate in a way that would get more information.
Heartbreaking.
Ford: I wish I could be more helpful... and others could be more helpful... so we could collaborate in a way that would get more information.
Heartbreaking.
Booker reading letters of support for Blasey Ford and entering them into the record to close out his time.
Back to MItchell's interrogation of Ford's motivations. She's asking about who recommended lawyers - was it only friends and family. This (attacking the attorney selection process of a witness) seems like it wouldn't fly in an actual trial, to be quite honest.
MItchell asks when Ford requested an FBI investigation. Ford says she thought an investigation would happen as part of the hearing process. Mitchell seems to think it important to get Ford on record saying she would submit to an interview to committee staff.
Mitchell immediately back to the payment arrangement for her lawyers. Who is paying them? Her lawyers jump in, "We are working pro bono. No expectation of payment."
Mitchell then asks "have you seen my questions in advance", "did you have any information in advance", absurd.
MITCHELL IS RIDING WITH THE ED WHELAN LUNACY
Mitchell is honing in on the "third person" identified by Ed Whelan. Ford says she went out with the person briefly but not really "dated" per se. Indicates she knows the person pretty well overall.
Blasey tried to not let Mitchell go here. She said "I don't think it's right we bring this person that Ed Whelan dug up in", and doesn't use their name.
Ford may not have gotten any questions in advance, but she was clearly prepped to handle the Ed Whelan lunacy. She got Whelan's name out into the record as soon as Mitchell bumped up into it, instead of just letting it be a hypothetical unconnected to Whelan's tweeting.
MItchell basically asking if Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her on any other occasions, presumably to build the case that he therefore could not have assaulted her on the one in which he did.
Kamala Harris has time again. She is using it to praise Blasey Ford's civic duty. This format is not going to favor Republicans, and it gives Ford the energy to keep going with the Democratic members really praising her and standing behind her between Mitchell's inquisitions.
Mitchell is using a decent amount of her time to ensure no blame attaches to her for the GOP not getting the result they want from this hearing.
Mitchell closes out her questioning with a remark that subtly blames Blasey Ford for the format of the interview being a hearing, though Ford has been clear throughout that she would accede to an FBI interview.
Blumenthal says if sworn statements are being submitted, the people submitting them should come before the committee. He states he is objecting to their being entered into the record.
John Kennedy is asking why minority staff did not participate in the questioning of Judge, etc. Ford's lawyers asking to be excused. Some chaos occurring here with Feinstein and Kennedy. Hatch thanks Doctor Ford for her testimony. Recessing.
