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| Kavanaugh refuses to say yes to FBI inquiry as Republicans erupt at 'sham' hearing – live updates | Kavanaugh refuses to say yes to FBI inquiry as Republicans erupt at 'sham' hearing – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Democrat Cory Booker confirmed that Kavanaugh drank on weekdays in high school, and also confirmed that the judge’s position was that he never had gaps in memory when drinking. | |
| Reading Kavanaugh’s comments from earlier, the senator continued, “Are you saying that Dr Ford’s efforts to come forward ... have all been part of an orchestrated political hit? Are you basically calling her some kind of political operative?” | |
| “My family has no ill will to Dr Ford,” Kavanaugh responded. | |
| “Do you wish that she never came forward? Do you wish she would just remain silent?” Booker said. | |
| “All allegations should be taken seriously,” Kavanaugh responded, adding, “I don’t know her. We bear no ill will to her.” | |
| Senator Thom Tillis echoed earlier comments from Kavanaugh in his remarks: | |
| Judge Kavanaugh, I also have to say you’re the first major target of a new strategy that’s developed here... It’s basically “attack, attack, attack’... This is the playbook. This is the way we’re going to run this committee? ... | |
| I believe that you’re going to be on the bench. | |
| Senator Mazie Hirono, a Democrat, criticized Kavanaugh for his attacks on Democrats, citing Dr Ford’s powerful testimony: | |
| We heard from Dr Christine Ford who spoke to us with quiet, raw emotional power about what happened to her. She said she was 100% certain it was you who attacked her. She explained how she came forward, how she struggled with her decision. ... When you and my colleagues on the other side accuse us of ambushing you .... I think we all have to remember Dr Ford’s testimony and her courage. | |
| She asked him if he believed “temperament” was an important factor for senators to consider when evaluating him? | |
| Kavanaugh said he had been consistently praised for having good temperament in court. | |
| Asked about his behavior in college, he talked about his acceptance to Yale law: “I got into Yale Law School. That’s the number one law school in the country ... Look at my academic record. I don’t usually like to talk about myself this way. I worked very hard in college.” | |
| We’re on a five-minute break. Republican senators have repeatedly mentioned an earlier quote from then-senator Joe Biden during the Anita Hill hearings about the FBI. Here’s a response from Biden’s spokesperson about FBI background investigations. | |
| Biden’s spokesperson weighs in on the thrice-read quote from Biden about FBI background investigations —> pic.twitter.com/mBxFKqVfYV | |
| And a video from earlier in the day when senator Grassley mentioned Biden: | |
| Senator Grassley quotes then-Senator Joe Biden during Anita Hill hearings, saying the "FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion." https://t.co/TwbFEzDBHA pic.twitter.com/D3b5IL9rAH | |
| Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal asked about Renate Dolphin, a former classmate. Kavanaugh was among those named as “Renate alumni” in his yearbook. Dolphin said the remarks were “hurtful”. Kavanaugh responded by chastising the senator for bringing up her name: | |
| Your question is based on a false premise and really does great harm to her. You’re doing great harm to her by bringing her name up. ... Look what you’re doing. ... You’re just dragging her through the mud. It’s just unnecessary. | |
| Blumenthal also asked if the judge believed Anita Hill at the end of his remarks, but the questioned moved on and Kavanaugh did not answer. | |
| Republican senator Mike Lee has used his time to attack Democrats’ call for an FBI investigation after praising Kavanaugh as “attentive” and “responsive”: | Republican senator Mike Lee has used his time to attack Democrats’ call for an FBI investigation after praising Kavanaugh as “attentive” and “responsive”: |
| If you have questions for Judge Kavanaugh, ask him. He’s right here. If you have questions of other witnesses ... Participate in the committee investigations that have been going on. ... If someone was really interested in the truth, this is what they would do. ... | If you have questions for Judge Kavanaugh, ask him. He’s right here. If you have questions of other witnesses ... Participate in the committee investigations that have been going on. ... If someone was really interested in the truth, this is what they would do. ... |
| “I extend to you my most profound sympathies,” the senator added. | “I extend to you my most profound sympathies,” the senator added. |
| Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat, asked Kavanaugh about “whether you’ve ever gotten aggressive while drinking or forgotten an evening after drinking”. The judge said: | Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat, asked Kavanaugh about “whether you’ve ever gotten aggressive while drinking or forgotten an evening after drinking”. The judge said: |
| The answer to that is basically no. I don’t really know what you mean by that. What are you talking about? No, is the basic answer unless you’re talking about something that I’m not aware of. | The answer to that is basically no. I don’t really know what you mean by that. What are you talking about? No, is the basic answer unless you’re talking about something that I’m not aware of. |
| Coons also asked Kavanaugh about comments from a former classmate about his behavior while drinking – that he would sometimes get aggressive and drink frequently. Kavanaugh deflected in his response, not directly answering. | Coons also asked Kavanaugh about comments from a former classmate about his behavior while drinking – that he would sometimes get aggressive and drink frequently. Kavanaugh deflected in his response, not directly answering. |
| Coons also asked him to join him in calling for a week-long FBI investigation. | Coons also asked him to join him in calling for a week-long FBI investigation. |
| “Every day has been a lifetime,” Kavanaugh responded, referencing the last ten days. | “Every day has been a lifetime,” Kavanaugh responded, referencing the last ten days. |
| Republican senator Orrin Hatch is now decrying the process as unfair. | Republican senator Orrin Hatch is now decrying the process as unfair. |
| This is worse than Clarence Thomas. I didn’t think it could get any worse than that. This is a national disgrace ... | This is worse than Clarence Thomas. I didn’t think it could get any worse than that. This is a national disgrace ... |
| He was an immature high schooler. So were we all. That he wrote or said stupid things does not make him a sexual predator ... | He was an immature high schooler. So were we all. That he wrote or said stupid things does not make him a sexual predator ... |
| We’re back from the break. Kavanaugh opened up with a brief apology to Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar after he asked her about her drinking in response to her questions: “I’m sorry I did that. It’s a tough process.” | We’re back from the break. Kavanaugh opened up with a brief apology to Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar after he asked her about her drinking in response to her questions: “I’m sorry I did that. It’s a tough process.” |
| She responded, “I was truly just trying to get to the bottom of the facts and the evidence.” | She responded, “I was truly just trying to get to the bottom of the facts and the evidence.” |
| Some observers are commenting on the stark contrast in gender expectations that the dueling testimony of Kavanaugh and Dr Ford has revealed: | Some observers are commenting on the stark contrast in gender expectations that the dueling testimony of Kavanaugh and Dr Ford has revealed: |
| These testimonies are a study on gender expectations. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who says she was sexually assaulted, was apologetic and pleasant. Brett Kavanaugh, the alleged assailant, is forceful and angry. #KavanaughHearings | These testimonies are a study on gender expectations. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who says she was sexually assaulted, was apologetic and pleasant. Brett Kavanaugh, the alleged assailant, is forceful and angry. #KavanaughHearings |
| Imagine a black woman yelling through her testimony? | Imagine a black woman yelling through her testimony? |
| Amazing contrast in gender norms and expectations. Ford (who says she was sexually assaulted) is almost apologetic in her testimony. Kavanaugh, the alleged perpetrator, is yelling and angry. | Amazing contrast in gender norms and expectations. Ford (who says she was sexually assaulted) is almost apologetic in her testimony. Kavanaugh, the alleged perpetrator, is yelling and angry. |
| Ford was polite, deferential and accommodating. Kavanaugh is loud, angry and aggressive. Tells you a lot about what we expect from women and what we allow on the part of men. | Ford was polite, deferential and accommodating. Kavanaugh is loud, angry and aggressive. Tells you a lot about what we expect from women and what we allow on the part of men. |
| If Brett Kavanaugh were a woman, they’d be calling this performance “hysterical.” | If Brett Kavanaugh were a woman, they’d be calling this performance “hysterical.” |
| The White House is praising Lindsey Graham, who earlier called the hearing “despicable”: | The White House is praising Lindsey Graham, who earlier called the hearing “despicable”: |
| .@LindseyGrahamSC has more decency and courage than every Democrat member of the committee combined. God bless him. | .@LindseyGrahamSC has more decency and courage than every Democrat member of the committee combined. God bless him. |
| We are on another 15-minute break. In the meantime, here’s a report from the Associated Press, with experts backing up Dr Ford’s explanation of the mechanics of memory: | We are on another 15-minute break. In the meantime, here’s a report from the Associated Press, with experts backing up Dr Ford’s explanation of the mechanics of memory: |
| In her testimony Christine Blasey Ford dipped briefly into the mechanics of memory. Experts say she got her scientific facts basically right. | In her testimony Christine Blasey Ford dipped briefly into the mechanics of memory. Experts say she got her scientific facts basically right. |
| Asked how she could be sure it was Kavanaugh who put a hand over her mouth to keep her quiet, Ford, a psychologist, cited levels of chemical messengers called norepinephrine and epinephrine in her brain at the time of the alleged attack. | Asked how she could be sure it was Kavanaugh who put a hand over her mouth to keep her quiet, Ford, a psychologist, cited levels of chemical messengers called norepinephrine and epinephrine in her brain at the time of the alleged attack. |
| She said those chemicals helped encode memories in the hippocampus region of the brain, so that the main memory was “locked there” while other details “kind of drift.” | She said those chemicals helped encode memories in the hippocampus region of the brain, so that the main memory was “locked there” while other details “kind of drift.” |
| Later, she said a memory of Kavanaugh and another teen laughing during the assault was “indelible in the hippocampus”. | Later, she said a memory of Kavanaugh and another teen laughing during the assault was “indelible in the hippocampus”. |
| Memories are not highly detailed, objective recordings of events retrieved with perfect accuracy. They are shaped by beliefs and expectations. For that reason, experts told The Associated Press that both Ford and Kavanaugh, who denies that any assault happened, may both firmly believe what they say. | Memories are not highly detailed, objective recordings of events retrieved with perfect accuracy. They are shaped by beliefs and expectations. For that reason, experts told The Associated Press that both Ford and Kavanaugh, who denies that any assault happened, may both firmly believe what they say. |
| Experts in memory and the brain said Ford’s quick tour of memory machinery was generally correct. Levels of the brain substances she cited go up when a person is alarmed, and they help memories become laid down more strongly in the hippocampus, said Elizabeth Phelps, a Harvard University psychologist. | Experts in memory and the brain said Ford’s quick tour of memory machinery was generally correct. Levels of the brain substances she cited go up when a person is alarmed, and they help memories become laid down more strongly in the hippocampus, said Elizabeth Phelps, a Harvard University psychologist. |
| That helps people vividly recall central parts of an emotional experience, while details are typically lost, said Lila Davachi of Columbia University. | That helps people vividly recall central parts of an emotional experience, while details are typically lost, said Lila Davachi of Columbia University. |
| Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar questioned Kavanaugh about his drinking habits: “You’re saying there has never been a case where you drank so much you never remembered what happened the night before?” | Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar questioned Kavanaugh about his drinking habits: “You’re saying there has never been a case where you drank so much you never remembered what happened the night before?” |
| Kavanaugh responded by repeatedly trying to ask the senator about her drinking habits: “I think you’ve probably had beers, senator.” Some of that exchange: | Kavanaugh responded by repeatedly trying to ask the senator about her drinking habits: “I think you’ve probably had beers, senator.” Some of that exchange: |
| Kavanaugh bizarrely talks right over Klobuchar, doesn't let her ask questions or even attempt to answer the ones she manages to ask pic.twitter.com/lfjODS9ui2 | Kavanaugh bizarrely talks right over Klobuchar, doesn't let her ask questions or even attempt to answer the ones she manages to ask pic.twitter.com/lfjODS9ui2 |
| Republican senator John Cornyn is up next in an indication that Mitchell, who questioned Dr Ford for the entirety of her testimony, may have already finished her interrogation of Kavanaugh. | Republican senator John Cornyn is up next in an indication that Mitchell, who questioned Dr Ford for the entirety of her testimony, may have already finished her interrogation of Kavanaugh. |
| Cornyn follows in Graham’s fiery tone. He compares the hearing to the McCarthy communist sympathiser hearings of 1954. | Cornyn follows in Graham’s fiery tone. He compares the hearing to the McCarthy communist sympathiser hearings of 1954. |
| Kavanaugh watches on and appears to be sympathetic to the analogy. | Kavanaugh watches on and appears to be sympathetic to the analogy. |
| “I’m never going to get my reputation back,” he says. | “I’m never going to get my reputation back,” he says. |
| Democratic senator Dick Durbin asks Kavanaugh to turn to the White House counsel Don McGahn, who is apparently sitting in the front row, and call for an FBI investigation. | Democratic senator Dick Durbin asks Kavanaugh to turn to the White House counsel Don McGahn, who is apparently sitting in the front row, and call for an FBI investigation. |
| Predictably, Kavanaugh doesn’t take the bait. | Predictably, Kavanaugh doesn’t take the bait. |
| He then asks the judge whether he wants an FBI investigation. Kavanaugh does not answer directly, “I am innocent,” he says. | He then asks the judge whether he wants an FBI investigation. Kavanaugh does not answer directly, “I am innocent,” he says. |
| Just after Durbin’s question, Republican senator Lindsey Graham launches into an extraordinary tirade, branding the hearing “the most despicable thing I’ve ever seen in politics”. | Just after Durbin’s question, Republican senator Lindsey Graham launches into an extraordinary tirade, branding the hearing “the most despicable thing I’ve ever seen in politics”. |
| He turns to his Democratic colleagues, who he says have “destroyed this guy’s life”. | He turns to his Democratic colleagues, who he says have “destroyed this guy’s life”. |
| “I would never to do to them what you’ve done to this guy,” he says. “I hope the American people see through this sham. When it comes to this, you’re looking for a fair process, you’ve come to the wrong place.” | “I would never to do to them what you’ve done to this guy,” he says. “I hope the American people see through this sham. When it comes to this, you’re looking for a fair process, you’ve come to the wrong place.” |
| Kavanaugh says of the experience: “I’ve been through hell and then some.” | Kavanaugh says of the experience: “I’ve been through hell and then some.” |