Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) made the most of his brief opportunity to question Christine Blasey Ford about her accusation that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in 1982 while a male friend did nothing to intervene.
“What is the strongest memory you have of the incident?” Leahy asked. “Something you cannot forget?”
“Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter, the uproarious laughter between the two,” Ford replied, her voice breaking. “I was underneath one of them while the two laughed. Two friends having a really good time with one another.”
The exchange came during a Thursday hearing of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, examining one of multiple sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the committee chair, restricted each member to five minutes of questioning for each of the two witnesses: Ford and Kavanaugh. Leahy used his five minutes to question Ford about her memory of the incident in an effort to bolster her credibility.
Later in the day, Leahy had a thoroughly antagonistic exchange with Kavanaugh.
Ford has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when she was 15 years old and Kavanaugh was 17. She has said that Mark Judge, a friend of Kavanaugh’s, was in the room during the assault. At the beginning of the hearing, Ford retold the story, her voice frequently breaking as she did so.
Each Republican Senator, all 11 of whom are men, ceded his time to Rachel Mitchell, a prosecutor from Arizona who was hired to handle Republicans’ questioning. She alternated with committee Democrats in questioning Ford.
Leahy was the second Democrat to do so. He began by calling for a thorough FBI investigation, “as we have always done,” of all the allegations against Kavanaugh. So far, three women have accused him of sexual assault. Leahy added that the committee should “take time to have all [relevant] witnesses testify.” The Republican majority has so far refused to postpone the process, call additional witnesses or schedule further hearings.
Leahy then noted that he served on Judiciary 27 years ago, when Anita Hill accused then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. “At that time, the Senate failed Anita Hill,” he said. “I am concerned that we are doing a lot less for these three women today.”
The Vermont Senator referred to claims by Kavanaugh supporters that Ford was “mixed up” about the identity of her attacker. “Judge Kavanaugh and the White House have even promoted a wild theory about a Kavanaugh lookalike,” Leahy said, and then asked the witness if it was possible that this was a case of mistaken identity.
“No, it is not,” Ford replied.
“You would not mix up somebody else with Brett Kavanaugh, is that correct?” Leahy asked.
“Correct,” Ford replied.
Leahy then introduced multiple documents into the record. First, a statement by the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, then a letter from 24 members of the U.S. House urging that the committee use the Task Force’s recommended process for questioning trauma survivors, and a letter from 116 House members urging a delay in the confirmation process until all witnesses can be heard.
“Dr. Ford has been criticized for what she doesn’t remember from 36 years ago,” Leahy continued. “But we have numerous experts including a study from the U.S. Army Military Police School … that lapses of memory are wholly consistent with severe trauma.”
Then, Leahy concluded with a simple, direct question: “Dr. Ford, you do remember what happened, do you not?”
“Very much so,” Ford responded.
That concluded Leahy’s five minutes.
Mitchell, speaking for the Republican members, pursued a painstaking line of questioning about Ford’s past accounts of the alleged assault, looking for inconsistencies. Ford offered some minor corrections and sometimes acknowledged that she could not remember some details. But she staunchly defended her testimony. At one point, she said she was “100 percent” certain of the truth of her account.
Thursday afternoon, Kavanaugh came out swinging in his testimony, denying the accusations against him and complaining bitterly of a process that he said had become “a national disgrace.” When Leahy began his five minutes of questioning, Kavanaugh went on the offensive, repeatedly interrupting the senator and evading the substance of Leahy’s questions.
The senator first noted that Ford had called for an FBI investigation of the allegations. Kavanaugh did not directly answer; instead, he blamed committee Democrats for obstructing proper handling of the matter.
Leahy brought up the failure of Grassley to bring forward Mark Judge as a witness.
“Judge has submitted sworn testimony to the committee,” Kavanaugh replied. Judge was, indeed, questioned by Republican committee staff under oath, but not called before the committee.
“Judge Kavanaugh, I’ve heard your line and you’ve stated it over and over again,” said Leahy, attempting to regain control of his five minutes — which by that point had dwindled down to two minutes and some change.
Leahy brought up Judge’s book, Wasted: Tales of a Gen X Drunk, which references a character named Bart O’Kavanaugh “vomiting in someone’s car and passing out. Is that you?”
Kavanaugh dodged the question. Instead, he began a lengthy explanation of Judge’s troubled past and then noted that Judge “picked out names of friends of ours to throw them in as kind of close to what — for characters in the book.”
Which didn’t answer Leahy’s question. The senator then turned to Kavanaugh’s high school yearbook. The judge’s personal page boasts of epic beer drinking and seems to imply that a female classmate was very loose sexually.
Kavanaugh launched into a lengthy recounting of his academic and athletic success and community service during high school. Leahy asked the question again: “Does this yearbook reflect what you are?”
Kavanaugh parried. “The yearbook was something where the students and editors made a decision to treat some of it as farce, some of it exaggeration, some of it celebrating things that don’t reflect the things that were really the central part of our school,” he said, and remarked on the “absurdity” of “a Supreme Court nomination [being] based on a high school yearbook page.”
Grassley noted that Leahy’s time was up.
“We got a filibuster, but not a single answer,” said Leahy.
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Politics aside – but the only lady to believe in this cases like this is “Lady Liberty”.
Anything else is nothing but pure speculation and in this case a blatant transparent witch hunt.
Perhaps Leahy and Sanders should re-read “To Kill A Mocking Bird”
Trump sucks and so to they.
Martin, are you a misogynist, or do you just play one on Seven Days? Women all over this country have had buried memories reawakened by DJT and his cronies. We have had to relive trauma we experienced when we were younger and the world ignored women’s complaints. The reports about the memories of trauma survivors that the senator introduced into the record are based on science, something that obviously carries no weight with you.
I pity you.
Martin, Yes trump sucks but it sounds like you are a typical close minded republican
Kavanugh is behaving like he is auditioning for a talk show on Fox News. I doubt he would allow a witness in his courtroom to rant and interrupt the way he has. He acts like an entitled rich white punk who has never been told “No”. He looks more like Nixon being asked questions about Watergate.
Grassley has made sure this “hearing” would be a farce, constricted on time and substance . The GOP is all in on Kavanaugh. Leahy never got any answers to what few questions he asked.
Professor Ford came off as believable , Kavanaugh comes off like he has something to hide, just like Trump.
this message brought to you by American Cannibals for Koch Brothers’ Prosperity . . .have a nice day. 🙂
I have long been ensconced in the euphamistic camp which holds that “boofing” is when someone sticks their head back up their ass and felches their own personal perjured sworn testimony. Today, however, Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh testified under oath that “boof” is simply just prep school teen bro slang for “fart”. And then there’s the Urban Dictionary definition of “boof” …. and …. well …. let’s just say that I’m not about to go there in a family- friendly newspaper!
So one is left to ponder: If a Supreme Court Justice candidate were to potentially lie about something as important as “boofing”, one of numerous proud accomplishments and accolades Kavanaugh lists in his High School yearbook, could he also be so bereft of personal ethics that he would falsify personal recollections of numerous sexual assaults?
On the other hand, there’s Kavanaughs personal testimony under oath, repeated repeatedly when queried on unrelated topics, that he captained his prep school basketball team and got into Yale. And one has to admit that those sorts of “So how’d you do on your SATs?” entitled teen braggin’ rights have the ring of truth!
Frankly, its just so hard to know what to believe in these troubled times.
Personally, I would not want Kavanaugh on the court & he would never have been my nominee because his judicial philosophy seems way too deferential toward executive power (just one example among many, in his final opinion on the Circuit Court, he ruled against former WaPo journalist & Yale alum Jefferson Morley in his long-running Freedom of Information Act case against the CIA, with Kavanaugh stating there is no “public benefit” or “public interest” for the public in learning more about the CIA’s misrepresentations, lies and obstruction during the Warren Commission & House Select Committee’s investigation of JFK’s assassination). The “Imperial Presidency,” as originally articulated by Democrat’s Democrat, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. in the 1970’s, has been out-of-control. Since at least beginning with the Dulles brothers under Eisenhower and certainly continuing right through to Nixon and the unauthorized actions in Cambodia and Chile; Iran-Contra under Reagan-Bush; right through to Obama’s overreach in Libya and Syria and Obama’s unilateral DACA executive order. It is sad Congress is not doing its job but Exec Branch abuse is not the answer.
SNL: How A Bill Does Not Become a Law
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUDSeb2zHQ…
Also, I am pro-choice. So I believe there are very strong reasons to vote against Kavanaugh, based solely on his judicial record and I do not think I could vote for him in good conscience. That said, the Democrats tactics in the last 10 days have been disturbing and seem extremely dangerous for the country going forward.
While I would not nominate Kavanaugh nor vote for him, Democrats tactics dangerous because they no doubt will backfire in future in setting new standard, as each party continues its endless tit for tat “low road” in the court wars.
If you want full investigation of the allegations, whether by confidential bipartisan process of allowing trained Senate staff lawyers to conduct investigation, or FBI (which seems possibly worse & subject to Trump’s improper influence), why sit on this until very last second when you could have confidentially brought it to attention of Senate or FBI back in July or early August, when hearings still happening? Feinstein knew about this and did not raise it. Says Ford wanted to remain confidential (although anonymous charges will not go far). Someone leaked & some journalists know who and are not talking.
Dr. Ford seemed extremely credible. Kavanaugh came across as angry, almost unhinged. Unfortunately at end of day, however, still not enough new facts or evidence either way. Ford did look bad regarding her lawyer’s excuse last week that she could not do hearing on Monday because she can’t fly. Turns out she’s flown all over the place.
As job interview for Supreme Court, you want someone beyond reproach. On other hand, Dr. Ford alleging a crime (even if not in criminal court) so burden should be prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. Is it really worth burning down US Constitution’s 5th Amendment right to due process? Is this the new standard for every nominee going forward? Credible but uncorroborated allegations that no prosecutor could move forward with? Seems this will bite both parties terribly in future. From my own personal political viewpoint and judicial philosophy, good result for Kavanaugh to withdraw. Process of how this happening last 10 days, however, seems dangerous.
She’s 100% certain but can’t remember exactly where, not sure when, or who she was with? Hardly sounds like certainty. She couldn’t even remember the day of her recent polygraph test with precision. Events 36 years ago? Sounds more than a little suspect.
Mike, I’m not sure if you can remember what you ate for meals 10 days ago but if someone jammed a broomstick up your ass 20 years ago you’d remember it. Would it matter who you was with you?
Character and integrity obviously no longer mean anything in donald trump america and yesterday was just more of the same,a very dark day for the usa.
Mike burnham,
on Friday I was talking with my sister about how old our various children are. Off the top of my head, I dont know. I have to go through a process, my youngest is 30 years younger than I am. My 2nd oldest is 10 years older than the youngest. The oldest is 10 years older than the second youngest, but when I get to the two remaining kids, I have trouble because there is nothing to tie it to. My sister is 3 years older than I am, but then I have to remember if that is before or after my birthday. I was present for each of these births (except my sisters) and I remember a lot, but I do not have a perfect memory of everything. What day was it? Cant tell you. The weather, I can guess or if the weather was pertenant (the power went out during the birth of my second son, big thunder storm) but, I dont really remember. Im sure there are many things that you remember but have difficulty with details. But I know who was there during these births, myself, the doctor and the baby, I dont remember who else was present, though people were, but it wasnt important to me. It certainly doesnt make this something that didnt happen.
Cyndy, I have the same problem and I’m sure most people have the same problem even though they won’t admit it. They are too determined to go against Dr Ford rather than using common sense.
This audience illustrates how uninformed Vermonters may be, based upon the comments.
Will the NEW FBI investigation reveal that Christine Blasely is top level CIA? Kind of important as the CIA is deep state and vowed to take down Trump. Why has this not been disclosed before hearing? Is it normal that a CIA agent should be charging sex scandal at the last minute…
Nobody told us this. Ford is CIA. Daughter Of CIA Assassin Paymaster Tries To Bring Down Trump Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh. http://whatdoesitmean.com/index2659.htm This is key….
You want to understand what the Left is doing right now, read Saul Alinskys Rules For Radicals.
What we are seeing right now is Rule #13 in action: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.
But wait, there’s more….. https://t.co/VjsDl2O8Zr?ssr=true
and this…..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fiwgVvTQyWM&…
Feinstein under investigation
Come on Vermont, get with it.
Be prepared for the sinking of the deep state. MAGA WWG1WGA
Tinfoil hat alert.
Again.
Good lord, Mr. Price. Get your (alternative) facts straight. Dr. Ford is not a CIA operative. Everyone knows she is a space alien!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retrop…
Make America Goofy Again!