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Brett Kavanaugh nomination: Trump challenges accuser

Brett Kavanaugh nomination: Trump challenges accuser

Mr Trump questioned why law enforcement was not called at the time of the alleged assault, in 1982, if it was “as bad as she says”.

 

The nomination of Brett Kavanaugh has been held up while the allegations of Christine Blasey Ford are assessed.

 

Both have agreed to testify before a Senate committee.

However, Prof Ford has set out conditions for her appearance which have yet to be agreed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

 

US media report that the panel has now offered to hold the hearing next Wednesday.

 

This counteroffer reportedly requires Prof Ford to testify before Judge Kavanaugh, which goes against one of her conditions.

 

The committee must approve the nomination before it passes to the full Senate for a vote.

 

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.

 

What has Mr Trump said?

 

In a series of tweets, the president again delivered his full support for Judge Kavanaugh, saying he was a “fine man, with an impeccable reputation”.

 

He went on: “I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!”

 

He added: “Why didn’t someone call the FBI 36 years ago?”

 

Mr Trump also attacked “radical left wing politicians who don’t want to know the answers, they just want to destroy and delay”.

 

Following the president’s controversial comments, the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport began trending on Twitter, with thousands sharing personal stories of sexual harassment and assault.

 

By Friday afternoon, the hashtag had over 122,000 tweets from both women and men.

 

President Trump had also weighed in on the process on Thursday, telling Fox News: “I don’t think you can delay it any longer. They’ve delayed it a week already… they have to get on with it.”

 

The Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Judge Kavanaugh had originally been scheduled for Thursday of this week.

 

What was Prof Ford’s account?

 

The details of the alleged assault during a gathering of teenagers at a house in Montgomery County, Maryland, were carried in the Washington Post last Sunday when Prof Ford decided to go public.

 

She told the newspaper that she discussed the alleged assault in 2012 when she attended couples therapy with her husband.

 

The psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California said she was being treated for what she said had been the long-term effects of the incident.

 

She told a senior Democratic lawmaker of her allegation in a confidential letter this summer and only consented to be named after it was leaked.

 

Judge Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied the claim.