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| Brett Kavanaugh nomination: US senators to hear crucial sex assault testimony | Brett Kavanaugh nomination: US senators to hear crucial sex assault testimony |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The story that has dominated US politics for weeks will reach fever pitch later on Thursday in a small Senate committee room. | The story that has dominated US politics for weeks will reach fever pitch later on Thursday in a small Senate committee room. |
| Brett Kavanaugh, the man nominated for a vacant post on the Supreme Court, and a woman accusing him of sexual assault will both testify. | Brett Kavanaugh, the man nominated for a vacant post on the Supreme Court, and a woman accusing him of sexual assault will both testify. |
| Mr Kavanaugh has denied allegations by Christine Blasey Ford, along with those of a number of other women. | Mr Kavanaugh has denied allegations by Christine Blasey Ford, along with those of a number of other women. |
| President Trump called it an "important day in the history of our country". | President Trump called it an "important day in the history of our country". |
| The nine-member Supreme Court plays a vital role in US political life. It has the final say on US law, including highly contentious social issues and challenges to government policy. | The nine-member Supreme Court plays a vital role in US political life. It has the final say on US law, including highly contentious social issues and challenges to government policy. |
| You can watch the hearing via a live stream on the BBC news website. | You can watch the hearing via a live stream on the BBC news website. |
| What is happening at the hearing? | What is happening at the hearing? |
| It's scheduled to get under way in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT) and could last five hours. | It's scheduled to get under way in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT) and could last five hours. |
| It is set to be high on drama. No-one has seen or heard the 51-year-old Prof Ford publicly, apart from a few grainy pictures, since the allegations arose. | |
| After addresses by the leading Republican and Democrat members, Prof Ford will deliver her opening statement. | After addresses by the leading Republican and Democrat members, Prof Ford will deliver her opening statement. |
| The 21 senators on the committee will then have five minutes each to ask her questions. | The 21 senators on the committee will then have five minutes each to ask her questions. |
| The 10 Democrats will pose questions themselves and are expected to ask how the incident affected her and why it took her so long to talk about it. | The 10 Democrats will pose questions themselves and are expected to ask how the incident affected her and why it took her so long to talk about it. |
| The 11 Republicans, all men, are expected to defer most of their questions to a female lawyer, Phoenix prosecutor Rachel Mitchell. | The 11 Republicans, all men, are expected to defer most of their questions to a female lawyer, Phoenix prosecutor Rachel Mitchell. |
| Prof Ford will reportedly 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 reportedly 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, 53, will deliver his statement and the same round of questioning will follow. | Mr Kavanaugh, 53, will deliver his statement and the same round of questioning will follow. |
| A Democratic Party aide told Associated Press that its senators would try to make him look nervous and would address inconsistencies in his earlier statements. | A Democratic Party aide told Associated Press that its senators would try to make him look nervous and would address inconsistencies in his earlier statements. |
| Republicans say there are inconsistencies in Prof Ford's statements too. | Republicans say there are inconsistencies in Prof Ford's statements too. |
| Lawmakers from both sides will certainly be tuning in. | |
| Republican Senator Bob Corker said: "I've cleared the calendar and I'm going to watch every word." | Republican Senator Bob Corker said: "I've cleared the calendar and I'm going to watch every word." |
| Do we know what will be said? | Do we know what will be said? |
| Both Prof Ford and Mr Kavanaugh have released written testimony ahead of the hearing. | Both Prof Ford and Mr Kavanaugh have released written testimony ahead of the hearing. |
| In her testimony, Prof Ford will say: "It is not my responsibility to determine whether Mr Kavanaugh deserves to sit on the Supreme Court. My responsibility is to tell the truth." | In her testimony, Prof Ford will say: "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 will allege 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 will allege 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 will say 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. | She will say 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 writes. | "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 writes. |
| In his written testimony, Mr Kavanaugh denies Prof Ford's allegation "immediately, unequivocally, and categorically", along with all other accusations against him. | In his written testimony, Mr Kavanaugh denies Prof Ford's allegation "immediately, unequivocally, and categorically", along with all other accusations against him. |
| 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". |
| Are there other allegations against Mr Kavanaugh? | Are there other allegations against Mr Kavanaugh? |
| Yes, and new ones appeared as the hearing loomed. At present they are: | Yes, and new ones appeared as the hearing loomed. At present they are: |
| Mr Kavanaugh denies these allegations. | Mr Kavanaugh denies these allegations. |
| In his written testimony he 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. | In his written testimony he 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." | "These are last-minute smears, pure and simple." |
| 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 could withdraw the nomination if accusations against the judge were proven. | But the president on Wednesday did say he could withdraw the nomination if accusations against the judge were proven. |
| He said: "I can always be convinced. If I thought he was guilty of something like this, yes, sure. It's possible I'll hear that, and I'll say, 'hey, I'm changing my mind'. I want to watch." | He said: "I can always be convinced. If I thought he was guilty of something like this, yes, sure. It's possible I'll hear that, and I'll say, 'hey, I'm changing my mind'. I want to watch." |
| 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. |
| A vote by the committee is scheduled for Friday but its chairman, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, has left open the possibility it might be delayed again. | A vote by the committee is scheduled for Friday but its chairman, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, has left open the possibility it might be delayed again. |
| All 10 Democratic members on the committee have called on President Trump to "immediately withdraw" Mr Kavanaugh's nomination. | All 10 Democratic members on the committee have called on President Trump to "immediately withdraw" Mr Kavanaugh's nomination. |
| Republicans want their nominee in place before the looming midterm elections, when they could lose their 51-49 control of the Senate. | Republicans want their nominee in place before the looming midterm elections, when they could lose their 51-49 control of the Senate. |
| Any confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh could also affect female voters in November. The confirmation of Justice Clarence Thomas despite allegations of sexual harassment fuelled the rise of a new generation of female politicians in the 1992 national elections. | Any confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh could also affect female voters in November. The confirmation of Justice Clarence Thomas despite allegations of sexual harassment fuelled the rise of a new generation of female politicians in the 1992 national elections. |
| 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. | Mr Kavanaugh's presence on the court could give it a more conservative character for decades. |