Live coverage #1: Kavanaugh confronted on claims of sexual assault

by Laura Clawson for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday, Sep. 27, 2018 Thursday, Sep. 27, 2018 at 7:00:32am PDT

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: The nameplate of professor Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of a sexual assault in 1982, is seen prior to her testimony before a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Kavanaugh on Capitol Hill September 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. A professor at Palo Alto University and a research psychologist at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Ford has accused Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her during a party in 1982 when they were high school students in suburban Maryland. (Photo by Jim Bourg-Pool/Getty Images) — Brett Kavanaugh has sworn to tell the truth and then lied before.

After two weeks of new revelations and Republican smears and attempted ambushes, here we go with the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick. Christine Blasey Ford will appear before the committee before Kavanaugh, but first up, opening statements by Sens. Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein, the chair and ranking member of the committee, respectively.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:06:34 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Grassley gavels in. He and Feinstein will make statements for as long as they want, then Ford will make her statement. Then five minutes of questioning from each senator (the “female assistant” asking questions for Republicans), alternating R and D. Breaks every 45 minutes.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:08:52 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Grassley giving Kavanaugh’s resume. Says FBI investigated his background six times, never found any issue at all. He’s wonderful. (The FBI didn’t ask any women about him, now did they?) Now we get the damned Dems with this secret letter (paraphrasing).

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:14:12 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Grassley coming out of the gates with extreme partisanship. Just oozing cranky-old-Republican-man “how dare she.”

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:15:48 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Grassley lies. Says FBI considers case closed. The FBI has said they would reopen if asked by the White House. Also, too, he’s basically calling Ford a liar before she has the opportunity to say a word.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:19:26 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Grassley lied. Said other women leveling allegations did not cooperate. That is not true. Both have asked to testify before the committee. Both have been denied.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:21:16 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Feinstein setting the record straight on Grassley’s obstruction charges. She was respecting Ford’s privacy, confidentiality, and the sensitivity of the issue. Is giving bio of Ford, with some grumbling from Grassley who says he was gonna do that.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:22:40 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Feinstein setting the stage for the Dems who will be approaching this as a hearing about sexual violence. Marked contrast to Grassley, who promises all partisanship all the time. Feinstein trying to set the frame about the reality of sexual assault for the survivors.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:27:54 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Feinstein giving the background of how the Ford allegations came to light. How Grassley blew them off, refused to open an investigation. Points out that FBI would do it if Trump asked. Keeps contrasting with how Senate did it in 1991, involving the FBI and including having witnesses. Reiterates that Kavanaugh friend Mark Judge should be subpoenaed since he was allegedly in the room. Condemns the Republicans’ “rush to judgement” on the allegations. Also talks about how little has changed between 1991 and now—Republican refusal to take allegations seriously, assertions that the hearing is not going to make any difference in the outcome.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:29:47 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

New thread here.