Thread by @atrupar

Fox News' CHRIS WALLACE says in wake of Kavanaugh allegations "two of my daughters have told me stories that I have never heard before about things that happened in high school & hadn't told their parents... I don't this we can disregard Ford and the seriousness of this."

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Brett Kavanaugh and Dr Christine Blasey Ford will begin soon. Follow me for a video thread.

Dr Christine Blasey Ford has arrived

.@ChuckGrassley begins by framing Ford and the man she accuses of sexual assault as both being victims

Grassley is out here trying to refute Dr Ford before she's even had a chance to speak

Grassley is criticizing Democrats' handling of Ford's letter at length -- despite Ford herself saying she approved of it

Grassley blames Trump for lack of an FBI investigation into allegations against Kavanaugh

I have no authority to force executive branch agencies to conduct an investigation into a matter it considers to be closed."

GRASSLEY: "I understand that there are two other public allegations... at this time, we have not had cooperation from attorneys representing other clients, and they have made no attempt to substantiate their claims."

(There is substance to both of the other allegations.)

.@SenFeinstein introduces Dr Ford, noting that Grassley failed to do so.

FEINSTEIN: "Our institutions have not progressed in how they treat women who come forward. Too often, women's memories and credibility come under assault. In essence, they are put on trial and forced to defend themselves. And often revictimized in the process."

Feinstein correctly notes that Republicans took sexual harassment allegations in 1991 more seriously than they're taking sexual assault allegations in 2018. She calls for Mark Judge -- the one alleged eyewitness -- to be subpoenaed.

Feinstein criticizes Republicans for trying to confirm Kavanaugh as quickly as possible, before allegations against him can be properly investigated

Feinstein outlines Ramirez's assault allegation & Swetnick's allegation, then discusses acquiescences of Kavanaugh who have questioned his character.

Closes w/this: "This is not a trial of Dr Ford. It's a job interview for Kavanaugh. Is K who we want on the highest court?

DR FORD tearfully says, "I am not here because I want to be. I am terrified. I am here because I believe it is my civic duty to tell you what happened to me while Brett Kavanaugh and I were in high school."

Ford talks about how Kavanaugh's assault allegedly unfolded. Says she was worried he was going to kill her.

Ford details how and why she started telling people about Kavanaugh's alleged assault beginning in 2012

FORD: "In a letter dated August 31, Sen Feinstein wrote that she would not share the letter without my explicit consent. And I appreciated this commitment. Sexual assault victims should be able to decide for themselves when and whether their private experience is made public."

FORD: "It is not my responsibility to determine whether Mr Kavanaugh deserves to sit on the Supreme Court. My responsibility is to tell you the truth."

Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is asking questions on behalf the Republicans, all of whom are men. Mitchell begins by interrogating Ford about her text messages with a Washington Post reporter.

Mitchell is going through the letter Ford wrote to Feinstein in painstaking detail and making her correct small details. Grassley cuts her off to note that she's going way over his questioning time. Very awkward.

Ford shoots down the bizarre conspiracy theory Republicans have been pushing -- that she was assaulted, but is mistaken about the identity of the assailant

The woman questioning Ford on behalf of the GOP, deputy Maricopa County attorney Rachel Mitchell, is grilling Ford about her interactions with the media, and about her memory of the day leading up to the assault 36 years ago.

Republicans are treating this like a trial of Ford.

.@SenatorLeahy criticizes Republicans for taking Ford's sexual assault allegations less seriously than they took Anita Hill's harassment allegations 27 years ago.

The GOP interrogator, Mitchell, is trying to poke holes in Ford's recollection of the party where she was assaulted, including from which room in the house music emanated

.@SenatorDurbin: "Mark Judge should be subpoenaed from his beach hideaway & required to testify under oath, but he has not. Judge Kavanaugh, if he truly believes there's no evidence, no witnesses that can prove your case, should be joining us in demanding a thorough FBI probe."

DURBIN: I'm asking you to address this new Republican defense of mistaken identity directly. Dr. Ford, with what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?

FORD: 100 percent.

Grassley gets very angry at Democrats for unclear reasons before calling for a break

The GOP interrogator Mitchell is still pushing the mistaken identity theory of Ford's sexual assault -- even after Ford said she is 100 percent sure Kavanaugh was the perpetrator.

.@SenWhitehouse: "The responsibility for the decision to have this be, I think, the only background investigation in history to be stopped as derogatory information comes forward belongs to 13 men -- the president, Director Wray of the FBI, & 11 members of this committee."

Grassley is ranting

This is a real question the GOP interrogator just asked: "This incident we are here about contributed to anxiety and PTSD problems with which you have struggled. The word 'contributed,' does that mean there are other things that have happened that have also contributed?"

The GOP interrogator tries to discredit Ford because she says she has a fear of flying, but managed to fly from California to DC for the hearing. #BeyondParody

Ford's lawyer reminds Grassley that he wouldn't allow the polygraph administrator to testify. Klobuchar criticizes Grassley for refusing to hold a more thorough hearing.

The GOP interrogator, Mitchell, asks Ford about why she didn't tells the White House or Congress about Kavanaugh's alleged assault before Trump nominated him for SCOTUS.

Sen @ChrisCoons points out that Ford actually came forward with allegations about Kavanaugh *before* he was nominated for SCOTUS -- at a time when he was merely on Trump's shortlist.

GOP interrogator Mitchell asks Ford why she didn't talk with Republican members of Congress. Ford points out that her part of California isn't big on electing Republicans.

Now Mitchell is trying to discredit Ford because she hired a lawyer

The president's son encapsulates why women don't come forward, in one tweet

https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1045350599166955520

BLUMENTHAL: "You have inspired and you have enlightened men in America to listen respectfully to survivors. That is a profound public service, regardless of what happens with this nomination."

Now Mitchell is trying to discredit the guy who administered the polygraph exam to Ford

Mitchell suggests Ford may have been coached to pass a polygraph

.@SenBlumenthal : "For us to vote tomorrow is such a disgrace, it's shameful for the United States Senate... the White House refusing to order an investigation is tantamount to a cover-up."

GOP interrogator Mitchell raises questions alluding to a dark conspiracy surrounding..... [checks notes]...... who paid for Ford's polygraph exam

Complete desperation. The polygraph conspiracy theory was a big focus of Fox News' coverage during the last break too.

https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/1045369167917056001

GOP interrogator Mitchell is still out here suggesting that Dr Ford is mistaken about the man who sexually assaulted her. She's said repeatedly that she's 100 percent certain it was Kavanaugh.

The GOP's interrogator seems to be blaming Ford for the terrible format of the hearing designed by Republican men on the Judiciary Committee

.@LindseyGrahamSC: "I'm upset they knew about this in Aug & never told anybody. I'm upset that if Feinstein believes this was a credible allegation, that she wouldn't do Judge Kavanaugh the service of saying 'I've got this what's your side?'"

Goes on to raise Qs about polygraph

GRAHAM: We don't even know what house this happened in! Or what day specifically!

REPORTER: Isn't that an argument for an FBI investigation?

G: Why didn't Dems call for one in August?

R: That doesn't answer the Q.

G: Well, the FBI wouldn't have told us anything useful anyway.

A grim-looking Kavanaugh walks in clutching his wife's hand

Kavanaugh sounds angry -- a much different tone than his tearful one during the Fox News interview

Kavanaugh is yelling

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 advise and consent with search and destroy."

KAVANAUGH smears Democrats: "The behavior of several of the Democratic members of this committee at my hearing a few weeks ago was an embarrassment. But at least it was just a good old fashioned attempt at Borking"

This political operative wants to be on the Supreme Court? Yikes

Kavanaugh again floats an evidence-free conspiracy theory that Democrats have concocted allegations to destroy him

Kavanaugh points out that he's had friends who have been sexually assaulted. (Not sure what that's suppose to prove...)

After suggesting Ford may have been sexually assaulted by someone else, Kavanaugh breaks down in tears

Kavanaugh falsely, repeatedly claims that Ford's accusation has been "refuted"

Kavanaugh has an emotional breakdown after bringing up his calendars from the summer of 1982

I don't know what's going on anymore. Kavanaugh is now providing a scouting report of his football team from the summer of 1982.

Kavanaugh is very thirsty

KAVANAUGH: "I drank beer with my friends. Almost everyone did. Sometimes I had too many beers. Sometimes others did. I liked beer. I still like beer. But I did not drink to the point of blacking out and I never sexually assaulted anyone."

This is getting very awkward

Kavanaugh has been talking for well over 30 minutes. He's now guzzling water and telling us that he "never had sexual intercourse or anything close to it during high school or for many years after that."

Kavanaugh points out that he's treated some women well, and some even seem to like him

Kavanaugh blames Dems for sexual assault he's accused of perpetrating.

"I love coaching basketball more than anything I have ever done in my life. Thanks to what some of you on this side of the committee have unleashed, I may never be able to coach again."

He then thanks Trump.

KAVANAUGH: "If a mere allegation from 36 years ago is enough to destroy a person's life & career, we will have abandoned the basic principles of fairness and due process that define our legal system and our country."

(He's accused of 2 assaults & another instance of misconduct)

Feinstein begins by asking Kavanaugh why he isn't calling for an FBI investigation of the 3 allegations if he's innocent. Kavanaugh replies by yelling over her and bashing the media.

Kavanaugh cuts off Feinstein mid-question and starts admonishing her.

Then says: "The Swetnick thing is a joke. That is a farce." Declines opportunity to say more.

Take a drink every time Kavanaugh says "beer"

Kavanaugh wants you to know that he drank beers, drinks beer, loved beers, still loves beer, but definitely never drank so many beers that he blacked out from the beers

Man accused of sexual assault by 15 women appreciates how another man accused of multiple sexual assaults denies them

https://twitter.com/costareports/status/1045406055117860866

CNN's spin is that Kavanaugh's anger "showed the human side of him." They seem to think the performance helped his chances of being confirmed.

He seemed completely unhinged to me, but what do I know.

.@SenatorLeahy: Do you want Mark Judge to testify?

KAVANAUGH: He's already provided sworn testimony.

L: But the accusation hasn't been investigated by the FBI & Judge hasn't been called to testify under oath.

K: It shoulda been handled earlier!

Leahy asks Kavanaugh whether the drunken "Bart O'Kavanaugh" he writes about in his book about being a drunk is supposed to be him. Kavanaugh dodges the question.

Kavanaugh shouts down Leahy so he can talk more about how a perfect kid he purportedly was in high school. Complete disrespect.

Grassley becomes irate after @SenatorDurbin suggests that Kavanaugh should call for an FBI investigation right now to clear up all the charges, especially if he has nothing to hide. Kavanaugh notably stops short of calling for one, but instead keeps insisting, "I'm innocent!"

Urged to do so by Durbin, Kavanaugh repeatedly refuses to call for an FBI investigation into the purportedly false allegations against him

A demonic @LindseyGrahamSC insists that Kavanaugh is just as much of a victim as Dr Ford, viciously attacks Democrats

GRAHAM: "[Dems] want this seat. I hope you never get it. I hope you're on the SCOTUS. That's exactly where you should be. And I hope that the American people see through this charade. And I wish you well. And I intend to vote for you and I hope everybody who is fair-minded will."

Kavanaugh admits he may have puked after drinking beer when he was younger, but that was just because he had a weak stomach. Farting also comes up.

Kavanaugh's tone to @SenWhitehouse is straight-up condescending. Hard to believe this guy may end up on SCOTUS. He's a political operative.

Republicans refuse to call the one alleged eyewitness to testify, but @JohnCornyn is out here decrying that "the people who make an accusation against you have to come forward with some evidence."

Klobuchar follows up on Durbin's line of questioning and urges Kavanaugh to ask Trump to open an FBI investigation into the allegations so the air can be cleared. Kavanaugh again dodges.

Kavanaugh bizarrely talks right over Klobuchar, doesn't let her ask questions or even attempt to answer the ones she manages to ask

Kavanaugh awkwardly asks Klobuchar if she ever drinks to the point where she blacks out. Grassley then rants and raves about why an FBI investigation actually isn't needed.

Kavanaugh apologizes for asking Klobuchar -- whose dad is an alcoholic -- whether she's ever drank to the point where she's blacked out

If Kavanaugh is confirmed to SCOTUS after the ugly fiasco we've witnessed today, it will discredit the court for a generation at the very least.

The old white men who comprise the Republican majority on the Judiciary Committee have abandoned the pretense of having a woman ask questions on their behalf, and are now just using their time to try and undercut Ford's accusations

Kavanaugh tries to push back on multiple reports that he drank heavily and to the point of belligerency in college

Kavanaugh's rationale for not wanting an FBI investigation is that "every day is an eternity" for him, so even a 3 day investigation would be unbearable. #entitlement

Kavanaugh repeatedly refuses to call for FBI investigation that could clear his name thinkprogress.org/kavanaugh-hear…

.@SenSasse helpfully and accidentally reminds Americans that in addition to possible alcohol and sexual misconduct problems, Kavanaugh also reportedly has (unexplored!) gambling and personal debt issues as well. 😳

Kavanaugh lashes out at @SenBlumenthal for having the gall to ask him questions about his yearbook entry bragging about the conquest of a young woman

BLUMENTHAL: Is it your testimony that the motivation of the courageous woman who sat where you did just a short time ago was revenge on behalf of a left-wing conspiracy or the Clintons?

KAVANAUGH, NOT ANSWERING: Her confidentiality was destroyed by the actions of this committee

.@MikeCrapo uses his time to explain why an FBI investigation actually isn't needed.

(Republicans have spent so much time defending their refusal to call for one that a probe probably could've been wrapped up by now...)

Note how Kavanaugh refuses to provide straight answers to @maziehirono's direct questions. #slippery

Kavanaugh's pushback to the suggestion he drank to excess in college is that he got into Yale Law School, so he couldn't have that big of a boozer

BOOKER: You drank on weekdays in high school, right?

KAVANAUGH: Well you see, in the summer, after sports, when the sun started to go dow--

B: Yes or no?

K: Let me explai--

B: Is that a yes?

#slippery

Kavanaugh refuses to answer @CoryBooker's straightforward questions about whether he thinks Ford is part of a left-wing plot, and then also refuses to discuss if he wishes she wouldn't have come forward at all. #dodging

After Ted Cruz disparages her for allegedly playing politics with Ford's story, @SenFeinstein rightly points out that she was merely handling the accusation in accordance with her wishes. Ford praised Feinstein for how she handled it earlier today.

.@KamalaHarris asks Kavanaugh if he's taken a polygraph. Kavanaugh admits he hasn't.

Harris asks him "one last time" if he'll ask WH to direct FBI to investigate the allegations. Kavanaugh repeatedly dodges.

Kavanaugh simply refuses to provide straight answers to Harris' questions

HARRIS: You've said you think Ford's allegation is part of a left-wing plot. If that's the case, then why didn't Neil Gorsuch get hit with sexual misconduct allegations?

KAVANAUGH: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Kavanaugh admits he didn't watch Dr Ford's testimony

The hearing ends with @SenJohnKennedy asking Kavanaugh if he "swears to God" that all of the allegations against him are false. Kavanaugh affirms that he does.