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Brett Kavanaugh: Judge accuser agrees to testify next week Brett Kavanaugh: Judge accuser agrees to testify on Thursday
(about 17 hours later)
The woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault has agreed to testify against him next week. The woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault has agreed to testify against him on Thursday.
Lawyers for Dr Christine Blasey Ford said she had accepted the Senate Judiciary Committee's request to appear before them to be questioned about the alleged attack at a party in 1982. Lawyers for Professor Christine Blasey Ford said she had agreed to an open hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee to be questioned about the alleged attack at a party in 1982.
A "tentative" deal has been reached for Thursday, US media report. The hearing will take place at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on 27 September.
Judge Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied the allegations.Judge Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The allegations, which emerged in the US media last week, have delayed his confirmation to the Supreme Court.The allegations, which emerged in the US media last week, have delayed his confirmation to the Supreme Court.
What has Dr Ford said about testifying?What has Dr Ford said about testifying?
Dr Ford, a university professor, had originally been granted a deadline of Friday to agree to testify. This was later extended to Saturday by Senator Chuck Grassley, the leading Republican on the committee. Prof Ford had originally been granted a deadline of Friday to agree to testify. This was later extended to Saturday by Senator Chuck Grassley, the leading Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Dr Ford's lawyer Debra Katz said in a letter to the committee on Saturday that her client had accepted the request but wanted to "continue our negotiations" on the details. On Sunday, Dr Ford's legal team said they had spoken to the Committee and agreed to an open hearing on Thursday.
She also criticised the process and said some of what the senators had been proposing was "fundamentally inconsistent with the Committee's promise of a fair, impartial investigation into her allegations" - but it was not clear to what she was referring. "Despite actual threat to her safety and her life, Dr Ford believes it is important for Senators to hear directly from her," the team said in a statement.
However, numerous "important procedural and logistical issues remain unresolved", they said - including who will be asking the questions.
How did the allegations come to light?How did the allegations come to light?
The allegation against Judge Kavanaugh became public last week, after it emerged Prof Ford had detailed the alleged assault in a confidential letter to the top Democratic senator on the judiciary committee, Dianne Feinstein, in July. The allegations against Judge Kavanaugh became public last week, after it emerged Prof Ford had detailed the alleged assault in a confidential letter to the top Democratic senator on the judiciary committee, Dianne Feinstein, in July.
As the judge neared confirmation, news about the letter leaked to US media. Ms Feinstein then confirmed she had passed it on to the FBI.As the judge neared confirmation, news about the letter leaked to US media. Ms Feinstein then confirmed she had passed it on to the FBI.
After days of continued media speculation, Prof Ford went on record in a Washington Post article as the mystery accuser, detailing the alleged assault.After days of continued media speculation, Prof Ford went on record in a Washington Post article as the mystery accuser, detailing the alleged assault.
She said Mr Kavanaugh had tried to drunkenly remove her clothing at a party, pinned her to a bed and covered her mouth when she was 15 and he was 17.She said Mr Kavanaugh had tried to drunkenly remove her clothing at a party, pinned her to a bed and covered her mouth when she was 15 and he was 17.
Since then, her lawyers have been in back-and-forth negotiations with the judicial committee, trying to agree on terms for her to testify. Since then, her lawyers have been in back-and-forth negotiations with the Judicial Committee, trying to agree on terms for her to testify.
She had asked for a number of preconditions, including not testifying with Mr Kavanaugh in the room and the subpoenaing of his friend, Mark Judge, who she said had witnessed the alleged sexual assault.She had asked for a number of preconditions, including not testifying with Mr Kavanaugh in the room and the subpoenaing of his friend, Mark Judge, who she said had witnessed the alleged sexual assault.
On Sunday, her legal team's statement said she would move forward with a hearing despite the Committee's "refusal" to subpoena Mr Judge.
What has been the reaction?What has been the reaction?
Some Republicans, including President Trump, have accused her and Democratic politicians of deliberately trying to delay and obstruct the judge's confirmation, and urged them to push forward the process.Some Republicans, including President Trump, have accused her and Democratic politicians of deliberately trying to delay and obstruct the judge's confirmation, and urged them to push forward the process.
The feelings are strong on both sides - with both Prof Ford and Brett Kavanaugh and his wife receiving threats and rallies of support over the matter.The feelings are strong on both sides - with both Prof Ford and Brett Kavanaugh and his wife receiving threats and rallies of support over the matter.
Why is the hearing important?Why is the hearing important?
The choice of a new justice for the Supreme Court is pivotal, as it often gives the final word on highly contentious laws and its nine judges have an immense impact on US public life.The choice of a new justice for the Supreme Court is pivotal, as it often gives the final word on highly contentious laws and its nine judges have an immense impact on US public life.
As Mr Trump's pick, Brett Kavanaugh has to first be approved by the Senate before he can take his seat - but before that vote can happen, he has to be approved by the judiciary committee, where Prof Ford will now testify. As Mr Trump's pick, Brett Kavanaugh must first be approved by the Senate before he can take his seat - but before that vote can happen, he has to be approved by the Judiciary Committee, where Prof Ford will now testify.
The Senate is made up of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats - so her testimony on the allegations could prove key.The Senate is made up of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats - so her testimony on the allegations could prove key.