webfact Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 Trump court pick tearfully denies woman's sexual assault allegation By Lawrence Hurley, Andrew Chung and Amanda Becker U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 27, 2018. REUTERS/Jim Bourg WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fighting to salvage his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh angrily and tearfully denied on Thursday a university professor's accusation that he sexually assaulted her 36 years ago after she told a dramatic U.S. Senate hearing she was "100 percent certain" he did it. Christine Blasey Ford, her voice sometimes cracking with emotion, appeared in public for the first time to detail her allegation against Kavanaugh, a conservative federal appeals court judge chosen by President Donald Trump for a lifetime job on the top U.S. court. Ford told the committee she feared Kavanaugh would rape and accidentally kill her during the alleged assault when both her high school students in Maryland. Kavanaugh testified after Ford finished her appearance, and they were never in the hearing room together. The clash pitted her word against his. "I swear today, under oath, before the Senate and the nation, before my family and God, I am innocent of this charge," Kavanaugh told the Judiciary Committee. Calling himself a victim of "grotesque and obvious character assassination," Kavanaugh, speaking passionately, said he "unequivocally and categorically" denied Ford's allegation. "I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process," Kavanaugh added. Kavanaugh at times choked back tears, especially when he mentioned that his daughter suggested they pray for Ford, when he spoke of his father and when he mentioned women friends who have rallied to support him. The momentous hearing could determine whether Kavanaugh will be confirmed by the Senate after a pitched political battle between Trump's fellow Republicans and Democrats who oppose the nominee. Kavanaugh sharply attacked Democratic senators, calling himself the victim of "a calculated and orchestrated political hit" fuelled by anger on the left at Trump's 2016 election win. Kavanaugh tangled with Democratic senators, at one point repeatedly interrupting Senator Patrick Leahy. Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California, said over four hours of testimony that a drunken Kavanaugh attacked her and tried to remove her clothing at a gathering of teenagers when he was 17 years old and she was 15 in 1982. The hearing, which has riveted Americans and intensified the political polarization in the United States, occurred against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault. "With what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?" Democratic Senator Richard Durbin asked Ford. "One hundred percent," she replied, remaining firm and unruffled through hours of testimony even under questioning by a sex crimes prosecutor hired by the committee's Republicans. Ford said "absolutely not" when Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein asked her if it could be a case of mistaken identity, as Kavanaugh has suggested. Democrats lauded Ford's testimony as credible, brave and, in the words of Senator Cory Booker, "nothing short of heroic." "I want to thank you for your courage. And I want to tell you I believe you. ... And I believe many Americans across the country believe you," Democratic Senator Kamala Harris said. While some Republicans and Trump have called the allegations by Ford and the two other women part of a smear campaign, Ford told the committee she had no political motivation, adding, "I am an independent person and I am no pawn." Ford was seated at a table in the packed hearing room flanked by her lawyers, facing a bank of senators. Cameras from news photographers clicked as she entered the room and took her seat, smiling nervously. Ford told the senators she was "terrified" to testify but felt it was her civic duty come forward. "Brett groped me and tried to take off my clothes. He had a hard time because he was very inebriated and because I was wearing a one-piece bathing suit under my clothing. I believed he was going to rape me. I tried to yell for help," Ford said, adding that Kavanaugh and a friend of his, Mark Judge, were "drunkenly laughing during the attack." Democratic senators sought to score political points during their five minutes apiece of questioning Ford. The panel's Republican senators, all men, did not question her, assigning that task to Rachel Mitchell, a sex crimes prosecutor. While Mitchell sought to probe Ford's account including any gaps in her story, her questioning seemed disjointed. She took turns with the Democratic senators to ask questions in five minute segments, disrupting her flow. The controversy has unfolded just weeks ahead of the Nov. 6 congressional elections in which Democrats are trying to seize control of Congress from the Republicans. Kavanaugh's confirmation would cement conservative control of the high court as Trump moves to shift it and the broader federal judiciary to the right. 'VICIOUS AND FALSE' Kavanaugh, sitting alone at the witness table, said he wanted to testify as soon as Ford's allegation first emerged last week and was not surprised that other allegations followed. "In those 10 long days, as was predictable and as I predicted, my family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed by vicious and false additional accusations." The delay in scheduling a hearing "has been horrible to me and my family, to the Supreme Court and to the country," Kavanaugh said. Looking sombre, Kavanaugh was accompanied by his wife as he entered the hearing room. He accused the Democrats of "lying in wait," with the Ford allegations, only revealing them publicly after his original confirmation hearing was completed. He thanked Trump for his "steadfast support." He was careful not to denounce Ford, noting that he wished her "no ill will." He said that he was not questioning that Ford may have been sexually assaulted by some person in some place at some time, but that he had never assaulted her or anyone. Supreme Court appointments must be confirmed by the Senate. The Republicans control the Senate by a narrow 51-49 margin. That means that a handful of moderate Republican senators who have not announced whether or not they support Kavanaugh could determine his fate. One of them, Senator Lisa Murkowski, told Reuters: "I find Dr. Ford's testimony to be credible." The committee could vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation on Friday, with a final Senate vote early next week. Some Democrats have called on Kavanaugh to withdraw in light of the allegations. At the hearing, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham castigated Democratic senators, seeking to rally Republicans not to abandon the nominee. "This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics," Graham said, adding that voting against Kavanaugh would legitimize the attacks on the nominee. Ford said Kavanaugh put his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming during the assault, adding, "This was what terrified me the most, and has had the most lasting impact on my life. It was hard for me to breathe, and I thought that Brett was accidentally going to kill me." Her strongest memory of the incident, Ford said, was the "uproarious laughter between the two (Kavanaugh and Judge) and their having fun at my expense." She said the laughter has haunted her ever since. A White House official described Trump's reaction to Kavanaugh's dramatic defence as positive, saying the nominee significantly helped his case after Ford's testimony. "People are going to walk away from this thing feeling that there are two passionate, credible people talking," the official said. "I think every Republican has a fair reason to vote for him and not a real fair reason not to vote for him," the official added. Two other women, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct in the 1980s. Ramirez accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself during a drunken dormitory party during the 1983-84 academic year when both attended Yale University. Swetnick said she witnessed efforts by Kavanaugh and others to get girls drunk at parties so they could be raped. She said Kavanaugh was present at a 1982 party where she was raped. Trump, who has himself faced accusations of sexual misconduct, chose Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired effective in July. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley, Andrew Chung, Amanda Becker, Richard Cowan, Makini Brice, Steve Holland, David Morgan and Susan Heavey; Editing by Will Dunham) -- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post dcutman Posted September 27, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 27, 2018 Watching this entire circus was painful. This country is screwed in so many ways for now on. Not only will there be very few quality people be available to even consider accepting a nomination for anything. For those that are brave enough, they and their families will be attacked mercilessly for any unfounded allegation any nut job puts forward. Disgusting! 8 6 2 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kieran00001 Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 (edited) 31 minutes ago, dcutman said: Watching this entire circus was painful. This country is screwed in so many ways for now on. Not only will there be very few quality people be available to even consider accepting a nomination for anything. For those that are brave enough, they and their families will be attacked mercilessly for any unfounded allegation any nut job puts forward. Disgusting! I don't follow, which do you think we are seeing here, the shortage of quality people resulting in a sex pest being nominated, or a brave person being attacked with an unfounded allegation? Of course the reason there is a shortage of quality people is nothing to do with who is actually available, it is due to Trump sacking his transition team on Jareds request and choosing to run the appointments themselves, something they are clearly incapable of doing, hence why they keep selecting people with embarrassing or criminal histories. Edited September 28, 2018 by Kieran00001 15 6 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mikebike Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 40 minutes ago, dcutman said: Watching this entire circus was painful. This country is screwed in so many ways for now on. Not only will there be very few quality people be available to even consider accepting a nomination for anything. For those that are brave enough, they and their families will be attacked mercilessly for any unfounded allegation any nut job puts forward. Disgusting! The circus started with the Merrick Garland nomination... 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Boon Mee Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 This Kangaroo Court that poor Kav and his family are going through shouldn't happen to your worst enemy. What a travesty! 12 1 4 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post utalkin2me Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 Ford does not have a pattern of unusual or reckless behavior. She is just going to come out of the woodwork now, and turn her life upsidedown with nothing to gain? That explination makes no sense. Then you have the coorborative stories that bolster her claim. This guy is a scumbag. The country is filled with successful, power hungry, narsicistic scumbags, this isn't surprising at all. This guy is done. Stick a fork in him. Forget the supreme court buddy, you should feel lucky if you are not in a jail cellmafter this. 8 1 1 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post utalkin2me Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Boon Mee said: This Kangaroo Court that poor Kav and his family are going through shouldn't happen to your worst enemy. What a travesty! Yes, poor poor rich proveleged white boys who finally get called out for the pathetic, power hungry monsters they really are. Yes, poor poor guy. Seriously though, what is your argument? Did you see her testimony? Did she seem like she was lying, or do you feel she took too long to report it? Edited September 28, 2018 by utalkin2me 7 1 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post neeray Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 1 hour ago, webfact said: Kavanaugh sharply attacked Democratic senators, calling himself the victim of "a calculated and orchestrated political hit" "a calculated and orchestrated political hit" So now it's Trump and his boring "witch hunt" and Kavanaugh "... political hit". Quite a great pair they make (in many ways, haha) a great pair. 3 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post underlordcthulhu Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 With all these conveniently timed accusations coming out over the last 2-3 years I'm going to be extra skeptical of women claiming they were sexually assaulted or raped. It all started with 'mattress girl' for me at least. I'll be thinking hmmm what's her angle? What is she looking to gain here? Who's life is she trying to destroy? Especially once those sympathy tears start rolling. 5 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DoctorG Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 I believe that she was attacked and I believe she honestly believes it was Bret. What I have a problem with is repressed/recovered memories. These have been shown to be open to suggestion and false memory. I cannot see a way out of this as she has not provided enough detail of the when/where to prove, or Bret to disprove, the venue and timing. No winners in this. 3 1 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utalkin2me Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 9 minutes ago, underlordcthulhu said: With all these conveniently timed accusations coming out over the last 2-3 years I'm going to be extra skeptical of women claiming they were sexually assaulted or raped. It all started with 'mattress girl' for me at least. I'll be thinking hmmm what's her angle? What is she looking to gain here? Who's life is she trying to destroy? Especially once those sympathy tears start rolling. What answers did you come up with in this case? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kieran00001 Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 51 minutes ago, Boon Mee said: This Kangaroo Court that poor Kav and his family are going through shouldn't happen to your worst enemy. What a travesty! Get a grip, when things aren't going your way it does not make them illegitimate, I know you are only trying to copy Trump but throwing your toys out the pram is not actually a mature response. It is not a Kangaroo court, it it the oldest and most influential committee in Congress. 6 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kieran00001 Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 22 minutes ago, DoctorG said: I believe that she was attacked and I believe she honestly believes it was Bret. What I have a problem with is repressed/recovered memories. These have been shown to be open to suggestion and false memory. I cannot see a way out of this as she has not provided enough detail of the when/where to prove, or Bret to disprove, the venue and timing. No winners in this. There are three accusations to be heard. .How about Ford's evidence? She has taken the polygraph test and the result was that she was not lying about being sexually assaulted by Bret at just 15 years of age. 1 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Becker Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 (edited) 50 minutes ago, underlordcthulhu said: With all these conveniently timed accusations coming out over the last 2-3 years I'm going to be extra skeptical of women claiming they were sexually assaulted or raped. It all started with 'mattress girl' for me at least. I'll be thinking hmmm what's her angle? What is she looking to gain here? Who's life is she trying to destroy? Especially once those sympathy tears start rolling. You mean these tears? Edited September 28, 2018 by Becker 5 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post utalkin2me Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 Things get painfully obvious when you watch Kav at the hearing. He even goes as far as to say at the end of his opening, "what goes around comes around". lol. This is the wording he uses when trying to convince people of his innocence? He is basically saying, if you take him at his word, that he will attempt to orchestrate unfounded character assasinations on democrats in the future lol. That is his opening statement. Brilliant. 1 1 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kieran00001 Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 34 minutes ago, underlordcthulhu said: With all these conveniently timed accusations coming out over the last 2-3 years I'm going to be extra skeptical of women claiming they were sexually assaulted or raped. It all started with 'mattress girl' for me at least. I'll be thinking hmmm what's her angle? What is she looking to gain here? Who's life is she trying to destroy? Especially once those sympathy tears start rolling. They are not 'conveniently timed', these appointments are scrutinized, Trumps nominations keep failing this scrutiny process, Trump has demonstrated one thing here, he has no idea how to find staff. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mikebike Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 3 minutes ago, Kieran00001 said: They are not 'conveniently timed', these appointments are scrutinized, Trumps nominations keep failing this scrutiny process, Trump has demonstrated one thing here, he has no idea how to find staff. Come on... he has the best people according to himself... ???? 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neeray Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 3 minutes ago, mikebike said: Come on... he has the best people according to himself... ???? And starting with himself. (A real one man team.) 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Becker Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 @underlordcthulhu I see you have reacted with a "confused" emoji to my post # 15. If I in any way can help clearing up your confusion please don't hesitate to ask! You can even PM me if you're the emotional kind ("Kavanaugh type") and don't want the public to know. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorecard Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 1 hour ago, mikebike said: The circus started with the Merrick Garland nomination... No, the circus on this subject started decades ago and in the very recent past escalated and the POTUS is to some extent responsible in terms of his own behaviors and attitudes to women. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorecard Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 21 minutes ago, neeray said: And starting with himself. (A real one man team.) And to lead a country a one man team is just what is NOT appropriate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post utalkin2me Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 (edited) He is supposed to be the best of the best. A top mind. He is being accused of a violent sexual attack. So, his response in front of a committe is to get angry and make scary faces at the entire panel? lol. He can't even maintain his cool in the face of diversity. There are much better men than him who can and do. And he says "what goes around comes around" lol. So, we are to expect a revengeful supreme court judge if we are to believe him lol lol! Even if he is innocent, which i doubt, he isn't qualified in my opinion. What a deusch, either way, way andeusch seriously. Edited September 28, 2018 by utalkin2me 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Silurian Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 3 hours ago, webfact said: Yeah, there it is. The anger face! The true Kavanaugh finally shows through. He was throwing a temper tantrum on the Senate floor and pretty much demanded the Supreme Court seat. He feels he has earned it and deserves it no matter what. What was even worse was Senate Republicans joined along with Kavanaugh in fervid anger. Kavanaugh is like Golum in Lord of the Rings. "It came to me. My own. My love. My own. My precious." "Lost! Lost! My Precious is lost!!" 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bristolboy Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 "Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sat down in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday and declared war on the Democratic Party. His statement marked a total departure from what he submitted to the committee on Wednesday, veering into an openly political attack on his opponents. It was thoroughly partisan and utterly disgraceful, a Trumpian Hail Mary that exuded desperation, entitlement, and rage." https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-opening-statement-christine-blasey-ford.html?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=traffic&utm_content=TheAngle&utm_source=newsletter&sid=5821dfff1e56036d7f8b45ce 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post klauskunkel Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 3 hours ago, webfact said: "has been horrible to me and my family, to the Supreme Court and to the country," and to the entire World, the whole of the Solar System, our cherished Milky Way Galaxy and even to the Universe from the Big Bang onward. (just keeping perspective) 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gecko123 Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 (edited) Even if you believe that both sides were equally convincing in their testimony, you then have to consider who has the greater motive to lie? Kavanaugh out of shame and humiliation, fear of possibly being removed from the Court of Appeals or being prosecuted for sexual assault, anger at being denied an opportunity to be appointed to the Supreme Court unquestionably has the greater motive to lie. I found Ford's testimony to be extremely credible. In that insular close knit preppy social milieu, theories about mistaken identity just don't hold water. Nor does this appear to have ever been a repressed memory, but rather an incident which was kept secret. Her account of running into Mark Judge at the supermarket he was working at a couple of months after the incident and how he reacted awkwardly and uncomfortably, along with her request that if the FBI could find out when he worked there she would perhaps be better able to pin down when the incident occurred, I found to be especially compelling testimony. If you're going to argue that you still believe Kavanaugh over Ford's compelling testimony, at the very least, doesn't that belief need to stand up to the scrutiny of a thorough FBI investigation? Also, lest it be forgotten, several other women have come forward to report similar sexually inappropriate incidents, which needs to be taken into account when evaluating the credibility of Kavanaugh and Ford's conflicting testimony. The American people's faith in the integrity of the American judicial system should not take a back seat to concerns about whether Brett Kavanaugh may have been unfairly denied a seat on the Supreme Court. Edited September 28, 2018 by Gecko123 6 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post stevenl Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 2 hours ago, Boon Mee said: This Kangaroo Court that poor Kav and his family are going through shouldn't happen to your worst enemy. What a travesty! Agreed, the requested FBI investigation should have been done. 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bristolboy Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 Can you imagine what the troglodytes in this thread would be saying if it were a Democratic nominee tearfully testifying? 3 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post attrayant Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 If nothing else, this event has successfully generated tons of screenshots of Kavanaugh looking like a rabid raccoon. But there was something else. There was much more. Ford was professional and composed. She even relied on her professional credentials in supporting her case. Meanwhile, Kavanaugh lost it when Senator Durbin asked Kavanaugh to make good on his commitment to subject himself to whatever investigations would be necessary to clear his name by welcoming an FBI investigation. Then Lindsey Graham soiled himself shortly there after, bitterly complaining that he had voted for Kagan and Sotomayor, and feigned rage that democrats wouldn't return the favor for Kavanaugh. The cherry on top: Fox "News" rates Ford as "extremely credible" and said that "this is a disaster for the republicans". I'm still 90% certain that Kavanaugh will be approved along party lines. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bristolboy Posted September 28, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2018 3 minutes ago, attrayant said: If nothing else, this event has successfully generated tons of screenshots of Kavanaugh looking like a rabid raccoon. But there was something else. There was much more. Ford was professional and composed. She even relied on her professional credentials in supporting her case. Meanwhile, Kavanaugh lost it when Senator Durbin asked Kavanaugh to make good on his commitment to subject himself to whatever investigations would be necessary to clear his name by welcoming an FBI investigation. Then Lindsey Graham soiled himself shortly there after, bitterly complaining that he had voted for Kagan and Sotomayor, and feigned rage that democrats wouldn't return the favor for Kavanaugh. The cherry on top: Fox "News" rates Ford as "extremely credible" and said that "this is a disaster for the republicans". I'm still 90% certain that Kavanaugh will be approved along party lines. If that's the case, Democrats can take some consolation from the fact that this is one more bad piece of news for Republican candidates. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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