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Kavanaugh accuser says alleged assault 'altered my life' | Kavanaugh accuser says alleged assault 'altered my life' |
(35 minutes later) | |
The first woman to accuse US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct has said the assault "drastically altered" her life. | |
It is part of the written testimony Prof Christine Blasey Ford has released before she appears at a crucial Senate panel hearing later on Thursday. | |
Judge Kavanaugh, who will also testify, has strenuously denied the accusation. | |
However fresh allegations, which the judge also denies, have appeared as the hearing looms. | |
Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation to the highest US court has been delayed in the wake of the allegations against him. | Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation to the highest US court has been delayed in the wake of the allegations against him. |
The nine-member Supreme Court is the final word on US law, including highly contentious social issues and challenges to government policy. | The nine-member Supreme Court is the final word on US law, including highly contentious social issues and challenges to government policy. |
What will Prof Ford say? | What will Prof Ford say? |
In written testimony provided ahead of Thursday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Prof Ford says: "It is not my responsibility to determine whether Mr Kavanaugh deserves to sit on the Supreme Court. My responsibility is to tell the truth." | |
She alleges Mr Kavanaugh tried to drunkenly remove her clothing, pinned her to a bed and groped her at a party when she was 15 and he was 17. | |
"Brett's assault on me drastically altered my life. For a very long time, I was too afraid and ashamed to tell anyone the details," she wrote in her prepared statement. | "Brett's assault on me drastically altered my life. For a very long time, I was too afraid and ashamed to tell anyone the details," she wrote in her prepared statement. |
"I tried to convince myself that because Brett did not rape me, I should be able to move on and just pretend that it had never happened." | "I tried to convince myself that because Brett did not rape me, I should be able to move on and just pretend that it had never happened." |
She says Mr Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge locked her in a bedroom during a small gathering at a house in Washington DC suburbs in the summer of 1982. | She says Mr Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge locked her in a bedroom during a small gathering at a house in Washington DC suburbs in the summer of 1982. |
"Both Brett and Mark were drunkenly laughing during the attack," she said. Mr Judge has disputed the allegations, saying he does not recall the incident. | "Both Brett and Mark were drunkenly laughing during the attack," she said. Mr Judge has disputed the allegations, saying he does not recall the incident. |
"I believed [Brett Kavanaugh] was going to rape me," she said. The fact that he covered her mouth she says "terrified" her the most, and has had "the most lasting impact". | "I believed [Brett Kavanaugh] was going to rape me," she said. The fact that he covered her mouth she says "terrified" her the most, and has had "the most lasting impact". |
"It was hard for me to breathe, and I thought that Brett was accidentally going to kill me." | "It was hard for me to breathe, and I thought that Brett was accidentally going to kill me." |
When Mr Judge jumped on the bed, she says "we toppled over and Brett was no longer on top of me." She was then able to run from the room. | When Mr Judge jumped on the bed, she says "we toppled over and Brett was no longer on top of me." She was then able to run from the room. |
What other accusations does Mr Kavanaugh face? | What other accusations does Mr Kavanaugh face? |
What will Brett Kavanaugh say? | What will Brett Kavanaugh say? |
He has also released prepared written testimony ahead of the hearing. | He has also released prepared written testimony ahead of the hearing. |
He denies Prof Ford's allegation "immediately, unequivocally, and categorically". | He denies Prof Ford's allegation "immediately, unequivocally, and categorically". |
Mr Kavanaugh says: "Over the past few days, other false and uncorroborated accusations have been aired. There has been a frenzy to come up with something - anything, no matter how far-fetched or odious - that will block a vote on my nomination. These are last-minute smears, pure and simple." | Mr Kavanaugh says: "Over the past few days, other false and uncorroborated accusations have been aired. There has been a frenzy to come up with something - anything, no matter how far-fetched or odious - that will block a vote on my nomination. These are last-minute smears, pure and simple." |
In a separate statement, the judge said he did not know Ms Swetnick and her "ridiculous" allegations "never happened". | In a separate statement, the judge said he did not know Ms Swetnick and her "ridiculous" allegations "never happened". |
The written testimony suggests Mr Kavanaugh will not try to portray himself as a saint. | The written testimony suggests Mr Kavanaugh will not try to portray himself as a saint. |
He will say: "I was not perfect in those days, just as I am not perfect today. I drank beer with my friends, usually on weekends. Sometimes I had too many." | He will say: "I was not perfect in those days, just as I am not perfect today. I drank beer with my friends, usually on weekends. Sometimes I had too many." |
But he will also say that what he has been accused of is "far more serious than juvenile misbehaviour". | But he will also say that what he has been accused of is "far more serious than juvenile misbehaviour". |
How will Thursday play out? | How will Thursday play out? |
The hearing is scheduled to get under way at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT) and could last five hours. | The hearing is scheduled to get under way at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT) and could last five hours. |
There will be opening statements from the leading Republican and Democrat members. | There will be opening statements from the leading Republican and Democrat members. |
Prof Ford will deliver her opening statement first. | Prof Ford will deliver her opening statement first. |
The 21 senators on the committee will then have five minutes each to pose questions, but while the 10 Democrats are expected to ask questions themselves, it is believed a special counsel will act on behalf of the Republicans. | The 21 senators on the committee will then have five minutes each to pose questions, but while the 10 Democrats are expected to ask questions themselves, it is believed a special counsel will act on behalf of the Republicans. |
Prof Ford will then leave the room and Brett Kavanaugh will enter. Prof Ford had earlier asked not to be in the same room as the judge. | Prof Ford will then leave the room and Brett Kavanaugh will enter. Prof Ford had earlier asked not to be in the same room as the judge. |
Mr Kavanaugh will deliver his statement and the same round of questioning will follow. | Mr Kavanaugh will deliver his statement and the same round of questioning will follow. |
What is Donald Trump's stance? | What is Donald Trump's stance? |
He has portrayed the events in political terms, accusing the Democrats of trying to block the nomination. | He has portrayed the events in political terms, accusing the Democrats of trying to block the nomination. |
He repeated this on Wednesday, calling the accusations "a con job" by his political opponents. | He repeated this on Wednesday, calling the accusations "a con job" by his political opponents. |
Mr Trump has also repeatedly defended the judge's character, saying he is "one of the highest quality people" he has ever met. | Mr Trump has also repeatedly defended the judge's character, saying he is "one of the highest quality people" he has ever met. |
But the president on Wednesday did say he was open to changing his mind once he had heard Prof Ford testify. | But the president on Wednesday did say he was open to changing his mind once he had heard Prof Ford testify. |
Why does this all matter and what happens next? | Why does this all matter and what happens next? |
The Senate Judiciary Committee must vote on Mr Kavanaugh's confirmation before it is passed to the full Senate for a vote there. | The Senate Judiciary Committee must vote on Mr Kavanaugh's confirmation before it is passed to the full Senate for a vote there. |
The Democrats have called for the confirmation to be delayed to allow for the claims to be fully investigated. | The Democrats have called for the confirmation to be delayed to allow for the claims to be fully investigated. |
A vote is scheduled for Friday but committee chairman, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, has left open the possibility it might be delayed again. | A vote is scheduled for Friday but committee chairman, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, has left open the possibility it might be delayed again. |
All 10 Democratic members of the committee have called on President Trump to "immediately withdraw" Mr Kavanaugh's nomination. | All 10 Democratic members of the committee have called on President Trump to "immediately withdraw" Mr Kavanaugh's nomination. |
Supreme Court judges are nominated by the president and hold the position for life. | Supreme Court judges are nominated by the president and hold the position for life. |
Mr Kavanaugh's presence on the court could give it a more conservative character for decades. |