Live coverage #2: 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 7:29:01am PDT

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: Christine Blasey Ford prepares to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building 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 Win McNamee/Getty Images) — Christine Blasey Ford

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing into Christine Blasey Ford’s sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh continues. It’s important to note that Ford is not the only woman making allegations against Kavanaugh, but Republicans were not interested in even talking to Deborah Ramirez’s lawyers, just as they weren’t interested in hearing from people who could support Ford’s account.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:30:14 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Feinstein refutes Grassley’s lie about the willingness of the other two accusers to work with the committee.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:31:22 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Feinstein now brings up Kavanaugh and his “choir boy” Fox interview, and subsequent media reports from Kavanaugh friends and acquaintances of the time who refute him, talking about his hard drinking and bad behavior.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:32:38 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Feinstein: “This is not a trial for Dr. Ford. It is a job interview for Judge Kavanaugh.”

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:32:56 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Grassley swears Ford in.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:35:23 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Ford begins. She’s clearly nervous, but friendly, engaging. She begins with her credentials as a professor. “I am not here because I want to be. I am terrified.” But it is here because it is her civic duty and she understands the importance of them hearing from her directly.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:36:31 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Gives background of Holton Arms school. The high school social scene with all the area high schools, country club. Describes how she knew Kavanaugh—from a friend of hers who knew him.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:38:00 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

She spent the day of the attack at the country club practicing diving. Remembers four boys at the party—Kavanaugh, Judge, PJ, but doesn’t remember fourth boys name. Says she regrets that she does not remember more about the logistics, but can’t forget what happened.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:39:53 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

She had one beer. Kavanaugh and Judge were very drunk. She went upstairs to a bathroom, was shoved into the bedroom. Door locked. Music turned up by one of them. Pinned on bed. Brett groped me and tried to take off my clothes. He had a very hard time because he was very drunk and I had on a one-piece bathing suit. Tried to call out, put his hand on my mouth, I thought he would inadvertently kill me.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:41:04 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Judge was ambivalent, sometimes egging him on, sometimes telling him to stop. She tried to make eye contact with him for help. He jumped on the bed, eventually dislodging Kavanaugh and she got away, locked herself in the bathroom. They went down the stairs laughing. When she was sure they weren’t coming back, she escaped.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:43:49 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

She was afraid to tell her parents at age 15 she was drinking alone with boys. Told no one, and told herself that she wasn’t raped so she should get over it. Explains that her first telling of the whole story as in May 2012 in a therapy session. Explains how she insisted on having two exits when their house was remodeled. Tells the committee that bringing the assault up and talking about it, and the rise to prominence of Kavanaugh brought it back.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:45:54 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Says it was her civic duty when Kavanaugh was put on the SCOTUS short list to inform them of her experience. Sent a message to Washington Post encrypted comment line. Called her member of Congress. “This was an extremely hard thing for me to do, but I felt I couldn’t not do it.” During this time she told more people and gave his name. Everything in her testimony is completely consistent with what she’s told the press, what we know from reporting.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:47:51 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Explains that she requested Feinstein keep her information confidential. Talks about the wish to avoid the kinds of threats to herself and her family that she wished to avoid. Talks about her struggle in deciding to come forward. “Agonized daily with this decision,” had hoped that providing this information while there was still a list of qualified candidates as alternates.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:49:22 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

She resigned herself to keeping quiet when the press reported that his confirmation was a sure thing. The press discovering her identity, and the reporters starting to contact her and her employers was what led her to come forward.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:51:21 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

“My greatest fears have been realized, have been far worse than I imagined.” The death threats, horrible names, doxxing of her and her parents, emails, calls, threats. Family forced to move out of her home, visiting in various secure places together and apart. Her work email was hacked. Her life has been picked apart and put on display. Has been accused of partisanship. “Those who would say that do not know me. I am no one’s pawn.”

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:52:44 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

“My responsibility is to tell you the truth…. I am committed to doing my best to answer questions,” hopes to be able to engage with each of the senators, not just the prosecutors. Asks for caffeine. This was clearly very, very difficult and upsetting for her.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:55:14 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Mitchell, the prosecutor, begins. Introduces herself. Says she’s sorry Ford is terrified. Lays out some groundwork. “I’m not going to ask you to guess, I know it was a long time ago.” Starts with texts between Ford and WaPo.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:56:50 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Clarifies one of the messages including the role of PJ in the attack, he wasn’t a “bystander” but was at the party. She corrects that record. Verifies that she wrote the letter to Feinstein, is asked if the date on the letter is correct. She says it was on or about.

Thursday, Sep 27, 2018 · 2:57:56 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

New thread here.