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US Senate Tag

The examination of Christine Blasey Ford by Arizona Sex Crimes Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell failed as a television event, but revealed many important details, casting serious doubt on Ford's claim that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the summer of 1982. Mitchell has now produced a detailed analysis, and it devastates Ford's credibility and reliability.

According to a report published by Politico, Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) chose to appear pressured when, in fact, he masterminded the latest Kavanaugh delay. His subsequent media statements about his motivations and his media appearances in light of this report suggest Flake's true motivations are far less pure than he would have us believe. Flake's focus on optics, on his raw ambition (for 2020?), and on the kind of "swamp creature" political maneuvering surrounding this planned reversal paints for the American people a hideous and disturbing portrait of the Arizona senator.

[Edit: FS] We will be updating this thread throughout the day. Mark Judge has denied the allegations made by Julie Swetnick, the latest client of porn lawyer Michael Avenatti.  Swetnick alleges that Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge were present at parties in the 1980's when girls were drugged and raped by multiple high school boys.

After a wild and crazy Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh today. Chairman Chuck Grassley said debating will begin at 9:30AM ET. Procedural vote in the Senate will occur on Saturday with the final confirmation vote by Tuesday. Rachel Mitchell, the Arizona sex crimes prosecutor who questioned Christine Blasey Ford, said she would not have prosecuted Kavanaugh or had the ability to obtain a search warrant.

Brett Kavanaugh's testimony is over. I assessed Christine Ford's testimony earlier, Mid-Hearing Assessment: Christine Blasey Ford believes an untruth. I heard Kavanaugh's opening statement, but missed over half of his question and answer because of another commitment. So I've been catching up via Twitter, highlights and reports. I think I have a good sense of how it went.

At 10:00AM ET, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser Christine Blasey Ford will testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ford has accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault back in high school. I will update this thread as it goes. You can follow along and watch a livestream.

As of this writing, it appears that Christine Blasey Ford still plans on testifying at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, September 27. A committee vote tentatively has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Friday, and a floor vote is likely early next week. Ford's attorneys still are objecting to some of the planned procedures, including the use of an as-yet unidentified female sex crimes prosecutor to ask questions for Republicans. Having complained that a female accuser would face questioning from the all-male Republicans on the committee, Democrats are now complaining that those male Senators have hired a female attorney to ask questions.

Christine Blasey Ford's team sent another letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley with concerns about the hearing that should take place on Thursday with her and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Her lawyer, Michael Bromwich, told Grassley they have a problem with the hiring of an "experience sex crimes prosecutor" since neither of them are on trial. He also doesn't think she can get a fair hearing due to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calling her allegations a "smear campaign."

Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh has told Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein that he will not withdraw. He wrote:
These are smears, pure and simple. And they debase our public discourse. But they are also a threat to any man or woman who wishes to serve our country. Such grotesque and obvious character assassination—if allowed to succeed—will dissuade competent and good people of all political persuasions from service.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley gave Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, until 10AM ET to decide if she will testify on Monday. Ford's team handed out the terms for her testimony late Thursday night and I doubt it will sit well. First of all, she won't do it on Monday and she still wants an FBI probe. Now the Senate Republicans have given Ford a counteroffer with a hearing on Wednesday.