today at five. at the us senate — the powerful testimony of a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by a man who is now a judge nominated for the us supreme court. christine blasey ford says she came under intense pressure to tell her story, as she detailed her allegations of assault dating back 30 years. i tried to yell for help. when i did he put his hand over my mouth to stop me from yelling. this is what terrified me most and has had a lasting impact on my life. it was ha rd lasting impact on my life. it was hard for me to believe and i thought that brett was going to accidentally kill me. judge brett kavanaugh — the man nominated by president trump for the supreme court — denies the accusations and will also testify. here's the senate judiciary committee room where the hearing is taking place. we'll have the latest from the hearing on capitol hill. the other main story on bbc news at five. the commissioner of the london fire brigade tells the inquiry that no training

could have prepared her teams for what they faced in the grenfell fire disaster. we had never experienced an event like that, we had never seen such a significant failure of a building. treating more patients at the scene could save the nhs hundred of millions of pounds according to a review of ambulance services in england. it's five o'clock. our main story is that a woman who made allegations of sexual assault against brett kavanaugh — thejudge nominated by president trump for the us supreme court — has started to testify before the us senate. judge kavanaugh — who denies the allegations by dr christine blasey ford — and two other women who have come forward will give evidence afterwards. the stakes are high as the balance

of power on america's highest court will be determined by the success or failure ofjudge kavanaugh's nomination. let's rejoin the hearing. that was certainly a critical risk, we would call it a risk factor in science, so that would be a predictor of symptoms that i now have. it doesn't mean that other things that have happened in my life would make it worse or better, there are other risk factors as well. have there been other things that have contributed to the anxiety and ptsd that you suffer? there is biological foetuses with is that everybody has for particular disorders —— biological predisposition that everybody has, i cannot rule that

out. what about environmentally? environmentally, not what i can think of. certainly nothing as striking as that. in your interview with the washington post you said that you told your husband early in your marriage that you had been a victim of physical abuse. a new statement you said before you were married you had experienced sexual assault. do these two things refer to the same incident? yes. at either point on these two times did you use any names? no. mayi point on these two times did you use any names? no. may i ask how did you get to washington? in an aeroplane. i ask that because it has been reported by the press that you would not submit to an interview with the committee because of your fear of

flying, is that true? i was willing, i was hoping, that they would come to me, but i realised that was an unrealistic request. that would have beena unrealistic request. that would have been a quick trip for me. unrealistic request. that would have been a quick trip for meli unrealistic request. that would have been a quick trip for me. i was hoping to avoid having to get on an aeroplane but i eventually was able to get up the gumption, with the help of some friends, and get on the plane. when you were here in the mid—atlantic area back in august, end ofjuly, mid—atlantic area back in august, end of july, august, mid—atlantic area back in august, end ofjuly, august, how did you get here? also by aeroplane. i come here once a year during the summer to visit my family. i go to delaware. in fact, you fly fairly frequently for your hobbies and you have had to fly for your work, is that true? correct, and fortunately. you were a

consulting statistician in sydney, australia? i have never been to australia? i have never been to australia but the company i work for is based in australia and they have an office in san francisco. i do not think i will make it to australia. you have listed the following interests, how widely, costa rica, have you been to those places? correct. by aeroplane? yes. your interests include oceanography, and the culture of tahiti, did you travel by a as part of those interests? correct. it is easier for me to travel by that direction when it isa me to travel by that direction when it is a vacation. thank you. and my old job as a prosecutor reinvestigated reports like this so it gave me a window of the types of

cases that hurt woman and her all of us cases that hurt woman and her all of us andl cases that hurt woman and her all of us and i would always tell the woman that came before us that they would have to tell their story before a jury have to tell their story before a jury of strangers and you have had to tell your story before the entire nation. for so many years people swe pt nation. for so many years people swept cases like yours under the i’ug, swept cases like yours under the rug, they said what happened outside the house did not belong in the courthouse. times have changed. i wa nt courthouse. times have changed. i want to thank you for coming here to day and for sharing your report with us. day and for sharing your report with us. i understand that you have taken a polygraph test. dr ford, that found that you were being truthful when you discussed what happens to you, can you tell us what made you decide to take that test?|j you, can you tell us what made you decide to take that test? i was meeting with a tawny is, i was interviewing various attorneys, and they asked was i willing to take it,

isaid, they asked was i willing to take it, i said, absolutely. they asked was i willing to take it, isaid, absolutely. it they asked was i willing to take it, i said, absolutely. it was almost as anxiety provoking as an aeroplane flight. anxiety provoking as an aeroplane flight. you have talked about recollections, if there had been an appropriate reopening of this background check and fbi interviews, with that have helped you find the time they need if you knew when he worked at that safeway?” time they need if you knew when he worked at that safeway? i could be more helpful if i knew that date through employment records or the irs, anything. thank you. dr ford, under federal law, statements made to medical professionals are considered to be more reliable. there is a federal rule in evidence about this. you told your counsellor about this. you told your counsellor about this. you told your counsellor about this back in 2012? my therapist, my individual therapists, correct. and i understand that your husband was also present when you

spoke about this incident in front ofa spoke about this incident in front of a counsellor, and he recalls you using the name of brett kavanaugh? yes, i have to slow down, there are two separate incidents when it is reflected in my medical records. i have talked about it more than those two times. they usually are tracking your symptoms, not the story and the fa cts . your symptoms, not the story and the facts. i have it on my record twice. the first time is in 2012 with my husband and couples therapy, with the quibbling over the remodel, and then in 2013, with my individual therapist. if someone has done an investigation your husband would have been able to see that you need his name at that time? correct. i know you are concerned with your privacy throughout the process, and

you first requested that your account be kept confidential, tell us account be kept confidential, tell us why? yes. as i stated before, once i was unsuccessful in getting my information to you, before the candidate was chosen, my original intent was to get the information when there was still a list of other candidates available. 0nce when there was still a list of other candidates available. once that was not successful, and i saw that persons were very supportive of the nominee, i tracked persons were very supportive of the nominee, itracked it persons were very supportive of the nominee, i tracked it all summer and realised that when i was calibrating that risk benefit ratio that it looks like i was going to just suffer only for no reason. from my experience, with memory, i remember distinctly things that happens to me in high school or happens to me in college, but i do not remember

exactly the date, i do not exactly rememberthe time, i exactly the date, i do not exactly remember the time, i sometimes may not even remember the exact place where it but i rememberthe interaction. many people are focused today on what you are not able to rememberabout today on what you are not able to remember about that night. i think you remembera remember about that night. i think you remember a lot. remember about that night. i think you remembera lot. i remember about that night. i think you remember a lot. i will fraser is differently. can you tell us what you do not forget about that night? -- i will you do not forget about that night? —— i will work its differently. you do not forget about that night? -- i will work its differently. the living room. the bedroom. the lead on the right side of the room as you walk into the room, there was a bed to the right. the bathroom enforced proximity. the laughter, the uproarious laughter. and that multiple attempts to escape. and the final ability to do so. dr ford, i

wa nt final ability to do so. dr ford, i want to correct the record, it is not something i am seeing you stated wrongly because you may not know the fa ct wrongly because you may not know the fact that when you said that you did not think it was possible for the committee or investigators to put a california to talk to you, we did in fa ct offer california to talk to you, we did in fact offer that to you, and we have the capability of doing it, and we would have done it any free or any time. thank you. can i put the polygraph results on the record, please? that polygraph results on the record, any objection? let us see the chart. the polygraph, you wa nt see the chart. the polygraph, you want to see it? i think you may have it. can we have the underlying charts also? the underlying charts. i have the polygraph results that i would like to put in the record. i

have put the polygraph tests in the record. we propose having the polygraph examiner testify. if that had happened the complete panoply of materials six — — had happened the complete panoply of materials six —— materials supporting that would have been provided, you rejected that, what was provided was the polygraph report which is what the members of the committee currently have. on september 26 this was sent to your chief counsel and i want to share it with america, so they have this report as well. we will accept without objection, but we are also requesting and accept the other materials that i have just stated. but he would not allow the underlying witness who performed that polygraph test to testify, so i would like to point out, thank you for allowing this report in the re cord for allowing this report in the record but that is the reason we do

not have the underlying information for you. when was the polygraph administered? it was administered on august seven and it was dated report august seven and it was dated report august 20 18th. when was provided richard mark c if we can do this in a more orderly way. i have it and you have it. september 26. miss mitchell, for senator cruise. we have talked about this, i know it is difficult, i want to shift gears and

talk about the last several months. in your statement you said that on july six you had a sense of urgency to relay information to the senate and the president. did you contact either the senate or the president on or before july either the senate or the president on or beforejuly six? either the senate or the president on or before july six? i did not. i did not know how to do that. prior to 6th ofjuly had you spoken to any member of congress, when i say congress i mean this senate or the house of representatives or any congressional staff members, about your allegations? not. why did you contact the washington post on the 6th ofjuly? i was panicking because i knew the timeline was short for the decision. people were giving me

advice, people who do not know about the processes that they were giving me advice, and many people told me to hire a lawyer and i did not do that. i did not understand why i would need a lawyer. somebody said, call the new york times, call the washington post, put in an anonymous tip, go to your congressperson, and when i looked at those options i felt the best option was to do the civic groups, which is to go to my congressperson, soi civic groups, which is to go to my congressperson, so i called her office, and i also put in the anonymous tip to the washington post. neither got back to me before the selection of the nominee. you testified that the congresswoman contacted you on the 9th ofjuly?

they contacted me the date that the nominee was announced. had you talked about your allegations with anyone in her office before the 9th ofjuly? i told the receptionist on the phone. on the 10th ofjuly you text it is the washington post again, which was really the third time? second date, third time? one moment. correct. you had been advised to contact senators or new york times, had not heard back, who advise you to contact senators or the new york times? friends coming up the new york times? friends coming up with ideas of howl the new york times? friends coming up with ideas of how i could try to get to people because people were not responding to me very quickly. very quickly be responded to that text. once i sent that interrupted

text. once i sent that interrupted text they responded very quickly. did you contact the new york times? not. why? i was not interested in pursuing the media route so i feel that one was enough, their washington post. i was nervous about doing that. my preference was to talk with my congressperson. the washington post text is back that someone would get you in touch with a reporter, did you subsequently taught to a reporter at the washington post? yes, using an encrypted app and off the record. who was that reporter? the person who ultimately wrote the story on the 16th of september? correct. did you talk to any member of congress

and that includes the senate, the house of representatives, any congressional staff members, about your allegations, between the 10th ofjuly and the 30th ofjuly which was the date of your letter to the senator? yes i met with a congresswoman on july the 18th i think, on the weight and stay, then on the friday i met with the congresswoman herself. when you met with her did you meet with her alone ordid with her did you meet with her alone or did someone come with you?” with her did you meet with her alone or did someone come with you? i was alone. she had a staff person. what did you talk about with the congresswoman and her staff on the 18th ofjuly? i described the night of the incident. and we spent time speaking about that. i asked her what my options work in terms of going forward and how to get that

information relayed for word, and also talked to her about fears of whether this was confidential information. she discussed the constituent confidentiality principle. thank you. thank you. i would like to ask to submit to the record five articles including one titled, by sexual assault memories stick, and one titled why the accuser did not come forward earlier? i want to begin by thanking you for coming to testify. you came forward with cvs information about eight nominee for a lifetime position on the supreme court. you did not have two. this is a public service and i am grateful to have the opportunity to hear from you directly today. i want to first follow u p you directly today. i want to first follow up on that line of questioning. a lot of people do not

realise that you chose to come forward with your concerns about brett kava naugh forward with your concerns about brett kavanaugh before he was nominated to the supreme court. do i understand that when you first reached out to the washington post and the congresswoman it was when he was on the shortlist but before he was on the shortlist but before he was nominated? correct. if i understood your testimony it is that you were motivated by a sense of civic duty and frankly a hope that some other highly qualified nominee might be picked, not out of a motivation at a rate stage to have an impact on the final decision? correct, i thought it was important to get the information to you, but i did not know how to do it while there was still a shortlist of candidates. according to justice department data about two thirds of sexual assault survivors do not report their assault. based on your experience i would be interested in

hearing from you about this because you bore this alone for a very long time. it would be helpful for us to better understand their ways that that has impacted on you. it has impacted me at different stages of the development of my life. the immediate impact was probably the worst. the first four years i described earlier, fairly disastrous first two years of undergraduate studies at university of carolina, where i was finally able to pull myself together. then, once coping with the immediate impact, the short—term impact, i experienced longer term impacts of anxiety in relationship. you went on to get a ph.d. ? correct. as you addicted

there was a wide range of responses to your coming forward. some thousands of survivors have been motivated and inspired by your courage, others have been critical. i have reviewed the wide range of reactions and have been troubled by the excuse offered by too many that this was a high school incident and boys will be boys. that there is too low a standard for the conduct of boys and men in our country. i would appreciate your reaction to the excuse that boys will be boys.|j appreciate your reaction to the excuse that boys will be boys. i can only speak for how it has impacted me greatly for the last 36 years, even though i was 15 years old at the time, and i think the younger you are when these things happen, it possibly has a worse impact than when your brain is fully developed and you have better coping skills that you have developed. experts

have written about how it is common for sexual assault survivors to remember some facts about the experience very sharply and really but not others, that house to do with the survival mode that beagle into in experiencing trauma, is that your experience and something you can help the layperson understand? yes, definitely experiencing fight orflight mode, yes, definitely experiencing fight or flight mode, is that what you are referring to? this surge of adrenaline, and i credit that a little bit for my ability to get out of the situation, and also some other lucky events that occurred, that tells me to get out of the event. dr ford, we are grateful that you came through it and that you shared your account with us and the american people, and you have provided important information. thank you for meeting your civic duty. i wish we could have provided for you a more thorough hearing

today. asking for the fbi to investigate this was not asking too much. asking to have the other individual involved in your assault appear before ours was not asking too much. i am grateful you came forward and i am thankful for your courage which set an important example. senator. we were talking about you meeting injuly example. senator. we were talking about you meeting in july with the congresswoman. did you talk about your allegations with any republican memberof your allegations with any republican member of congress or congressional staff? i did not. where i live the congresswoman is a democrat. was it communicated to you by your council or someone else that the committee had asked to interview you and that they offered to come out to california to do so? we are going to

object to any call for privileged conversations between can sell and dr ford. could you validate the fact that the offer was made without her saying a word ? that the offer was made without her saying a word? is it possible for that question to be answered without violating any counsel relationships? i appreciate that you did offer that, i was not clear what the offer was, if you were going to come out to see me i would have happily hosted you and be happy to speak with you out there. it was not clear to me that that was the case. does that take care of your question? yes. proceed. before the 30th of july, the date of your letter, had

you retained counsel with regard to these allegations? no. let as talk about the letter that you wrote on the 30th ofjuly. you asked senator feinstein to maintain confidentiality... stop the clock. i found it. you asked senator feinstein to maintain confidentiality until we have had further opportunities to speak and then said you were unavailable to speak further, vacation and in the mid—atlantic until the 7th of august, correct? the last line? i am

just catching up with you. my mind is getting a little tired. i am available to speak further... yes, i was in delaware until 7th of august. after that i went to new hampshire and then back to california. did you talk with anybody about this letter before you sent it? i talked with the congresswoman's office. why? they were willing to hand it to senator feinstein. did anyone help you write the letter. no. after you sent the letter did you or anyone on your behalf speak to senator feinstein personally with any senate staff? yes, i had a phone call with senator feinstein. when? while i was

still in delaware. before august seven. how many times did you speak with senator feinstein? once. what did you talk about? she asked me some questions about the incident. i a nswered some questions about the incident. i answered those questions. was that the extent of the conversation? yes, it was a belief phone call. did you ever give senator feinstein or anyone else permission to release that letter? not that i know of. between the later date, 30th of july, and august seven, did you speak with any other person about your allegations? save the dates again. between the letter date of 30th ofjuly again. between the letter date of 30th of july and again. between the letter date of 30th ofjuly and august the 7th, while you were still in delaware,

did you speak with any other person about your allegations?” did you speak with any other person about your allegations? i am trying to remember what the is... stop. stop the clock. i think, correct. to remember what the is... stop. stop the clock. ithink, correct. i was interviewing lawyers. speaking personally about it. aside from lawyers that you were seeking to possibly higher to represent you did you speak to anybody else about it during that period of time? not. i was staying with my parents at the time. did you top to them about it? definitely not. would it be fair to say that you retained counsel during that time period of 30th ofjuly until august seven? i cannot remember the exact date that i was interviewing lawyers during that period of time, sitting in the car,

in the driveway, in parking lot in delaware, and trying to figure out how the entire system works of interviewing lawyers, and how to pick one. you testified earlier that you did not see the need for lawyers, and now you are trying to hire them, what lead you change your mind? it seems like most of the individuals that i had told, the total number was not very high, but those persons advised me to at this point get in a lawyer for advice about whether to push forward, or stay back? did that includes senator feinstein and the congresswoman? not. and want to thank doctor ford for what you said about what we said about coming to california. and want

to thank u for being here today, and tell you, i have found your testimony powerful and credible and i believe you. your teacher, correct? correct. you have given america and amazing teaching moment and you may have other moments in the classroom, but you have inspired and you have enlightened america. you have inspired and given courage to women to come forward as they have done to every one of our offices and many other public places. you have inspired and you have enlightened men in america, to listen respectfully to women

survivors, and men, who have survived sexual attack, and that is a profound public servers, regardless of what happens with this nomination and so, the teachers of america, people of america, should be really proud of what you have done. i will tell you why i believe you, not only because of the prior consistent statements and the polygraph tests and your request for an fbi investigation and you are urging that this committee here from other witnesses who could corroborate or dispute your story but also, you have been very honest about what you cannot remember and someone composing a story can make it all come together in a seamless

way, but someone who is honest, i speak from my experience as a prosecutor as well, is also candid about what she or he cannot remember. the senators on the other side of the aisle have been silent. this procedure is unprecedented in a confirmation hearing. but i want to quote one of my colleagues, senator lindsey graham, in a book that he wrote in 2015 when he was describing his own service and very distinguished naval service... i his own service and very distinguished naval service... lam not under oath! he said, " of his

prosecutions of rape cases, i learned how much unexpected courage from a deep and hidden placed it takes for a rape victim or sexually abused child to testify against the assailant. i learned how much courage from a deep and hidden placed it takes for a rape victim or sexually abused child to testify against the assailant." if we agree on nothing else, today, i hope on a bipartisan basis we can agree on how much courage it has taken for you to come forward and i think you have earned america 's gratitude. now there has been some talk about your requesting an fbi investigation and

you mentioned a pointjust a few minutes ago that you could better estimate the time that you ran into mark judge, estimate the time that you ran into markjudge, if you knew the time that he was working at that supermarket. that's a fact that could be uncovered by an fbi investigation that would help further elucidate your account. would you like markjudge to be interviewed in connection with the background investigation and be serious, credible allegations that you make ? serious, credible allegations that you make? that would be my preference. i'm not sure that it's really u p preference. i'm not sure that it's really up to me, but i certainly feel like i could be more helpful to eve ryo ne feel like i could be more helpful to everyone if i knew that he worked at the safeway so that i could give a more specific date of the assault. it is not up to you, it is up to the

president of the united states and his failure to ask for an fbi investigation is tantamount to a cover—up, in my view. thank you, mr chairman. we have heard this morning several times that you did take a polygraph and that was on august seven,is polygraph and that was on august seven, is that right? i believe so. it was the day that i was flying to manchester new hampshire. why did you decide to take a polygraph?” didn't see any reason not to do it. we re didn't see any reason not to do it. were you advise to do that? again you are seeming to call for communications between council and client, i don't think you mean to do that, but if you do, she shouldn't have the answer that. could you let

heras to have the answer that. could you let her as to the extent to which she doesn't violate the relationship between you and doctor ford? —— let her answer. they confer inaudibly. based on the advice of the council i was happy to undergo the polygraph test although i found it extremely stressful. it lasted longer than i anticipated. i told them my life story.” understand that it can be that way. have you ever ta ken understand that it can be that way. have you ever taken any other polygraph single life? another. you we nt polygraph single life? another. you went to see a gentleman by the name

ofjeremiah went to see a gentleman by the name of jeremiah hannington, did went to see a gentleman by the name ofjeremiah hannington, did anyone advise you on that choice? yes, i believe his name isjerry. did anyone advise you on that choice? the person that came to do the polygraph test. he actually conducted the polygraph not in his office in virginia but at the hotel next to baltimore—washington airport, is that right? why was that location chosen? i have left my grandmother ‘s funeral in the cemetery that they and i was on ipaq schedule to get a plane to manchester new hampshire, so he was willing to come to me. he

administered the polygraph on the day that you attended your grandmother 's funeral? correct. or it may have been the next day, in the hotel. i'm not sure of the exact day. have you ever had discussions with anyone besides your attorneys on how to take a polygraph? another. i don'tjust on how to take a polygraph? another. i don't just mean on how to take a polygraph? another. i don'tjust mean countermeasures but ijust i don'tjust mean countermeasures but i just mean i don'tjust mean countermeasures but ijust mean any sort of tips or anything like that. you're that were no, iwas anything like that. you're that were no, i was scared of the test itself, but i was comfortable that i could tell the information and whatever it was going to reveal. i didn't expect it to be as long as it was going to be so it was a little bit stressful. have you ever given tips or advice to anyone looking to take a

polygraph test? never. did you pay for the polygraph yourself?” polygraph test? never. did you pay for the polygraph yourself? i don't think so. do you know who paid for it? not yet, no. did you have a handwritten statement that you wrote out, did anyone assist you in writing that statement? no, but you can tell how anxious i was by the terrible handwriting. we touched on it earlier. did you know that the committee has requested not only the charts from the polygraph test but also any audio or video recording of the polygraph test. no. well you audio and video recorded when taking that test? ok, i remember being

hooked up to a machine, it being placed onto my body and being asked a lot of questions and crying a lot. that's my primary memory of that test. i don't remember laborious detail into what he was going to be explaining what he was doing but they just kind of explaining what he was doing but theyjust kind of focus on what i was going to say, i don't recall every detail about whether it was audio and video recorded. you were ina audio and video recorded. you were in a hotel room with a bed and the bathroom? it was a conference room. i was sitting in a chair and he was behind me. did you know of any cameras behind me. did you know of any cameras in the room? he had a computer setup so i assumed he was somehow taking in and recording me. you assumed you are being video and audio recorded but you don't know

for sure? i don't know the sure. we are going to recess now for half an hour, for lunch. thank you, doctor ford. that includes the very powerful and at times emotional testimony of doctor christine blasey ford at the us senate, just completed after a few hours, and some very completed after a few hours, and some very memorable moments as she explained what she alleged happened. she denied there was any possibility of mistaken identity, alleging again that she was sexually assaulted 30 yea rs that she was sexually assaulted 30 years ago by brett kavanaugh, the man now nominated by the president ora man now nominated by the president or a place on the us supreme court. our special coverage continues here on bbc news. coverage of an extraordinary day, the first women to accuse donald trump's supreme

court nominee of sexual misconduct is testifying in front of a senate panel. christine blasey ford says she was attacked by brett kavanaugh in the 19805 and said her life has been drastically affected by it. at lea5t been drastically affected by it. at least that's my other women have accused judge kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, he strenuously denies tho5e allegations and will speak later today. christine blasey ford has been describing to the panel how 5he has been describing to the panel how she felt compelled to come forward. i think we have that but we will bring that little bit of testimony to you in a moment. we can hearfrom ron christie, former adviser to george w bush. what do you think of what you have been hearing? dr blasey ford has come across as a very credible witness. there was a lot of, but she come at all in which

he come across as being believable, and she has come across as being believable. the other thing that strikes me is that the republicans have yielded all the time to a former sex prosecutor to ask questions and it does not seem to me thus far that they have really made the case. this is not a courtroom, this is a politicalfunction but it doesn't seem to me the republicans' council has done anything to undermine the credibility but what we have seen thus far. we have that little piece from the testimony. we can bring it to you now, here is dr blasey ford. i saw press reports stating that brett kavanaugh was on the shortlist of a list of very well—qualified supreme court nominees. i thought it was my civic duty to relay the information i had about his conduct, so that those considering his nomination would know about this assault. on july the birth, and a sense of urgency to

relay the information to the senate as soon as possible before a nominee was selected. i did not know how specifically to do this. i called my congressional representative and let her receptionist know that someone on the president's shortlist had attacked me. ialso on the president's shortlist had attacked me. i also sent a message to the encrypted washington post confidential tip line. i did not use my name but i provided the names of brett kava naugh my name but i provided the names of brett kavanaugh and markjudge. i stated that mr kavanaugh had assaulted me in the 19805 in maryland. this was an extremely hard thing for me to do. but i felt that i couldn't not do it. over the next two days i told a couple of close friends in california that mr kavanaugh had sexually assaulted me and was very conflicted as to whether to speak out. that was dr

blasey ford describing that assault. ron christie, it was hard, i think, to listen to. it is one thing to read the statement and to read the accou nts read the statement and to read the a ccou nts of read the statement and to read the accounts of what happened but it was very ha rd to accounts of what happened but it was very hard to listen to what she had to say, without, i think, feeling an enormous amount of sympathy for this woman. she has come across as credible and calm. we have not heard from brett kava naugh credible and calm. we have not heard from brett kavanaugh yet. we are at an early stage in this hearing, but i have been struck by how sympathetic she comes across, as a witness. i read a statement last night but it looked credible but watching her, listening to her, it is clear that she is very emotional, thatis is clear that she is very emotional, that is different and it hits you at a very visceral level. i believe that she believes something happen to her, there is no question about that. i wonder if whether this is an exaggeration of whether it is tree, but in her mind she believes this happen to her, and a lot of people in the united states and around the world also believe her. one thing that struck me during the course of

this testimony, and i guess we should have appreciated this, she is a professor of psychology, so she comes out this with a scientific background, and i have been struck by how often she has referred to that academic expertise that she has, talking about the hippocampus, talking about the process of memory, and that makes her more credible. the democratic senators have heard these letters of support talking about what this dusty memory, being ina about what this dusty memory, being in a sexual assault situation. combined with what the democratic senators are doing by putting information on the record and her own personal testimony, she said, as a psychologist, it comes across as making her believable. talk to me about the process of this hearing. it is very unusual. i can't think of another time when one side of the aisle, the republican side, has given away all of the questions to an outside witness. i can see good reasons for doing that, you want somebody who knows what they are dealing with, but it seems to me

that rachel mitchell who's doing the questioning, this is making herjob harder. she doesn't understand, she's not used to these weird, five—minute blocks of time, it is not her normal practice and it is not her normal practice and it is not helping them. this is a classic situation of optics versus fact. the optics are terrible. the last thing you want is a leading white men interrogating a woman who has claimed she has been a victim of sexual assault, so whatever the republicans do to mitigate this, they bring in a female lawyer to essentially interrogate her, but it has been so broken up and disjointed, and yet every single democrat has had the opportunity to engage with doctor for one—on—one whereas the republicans are using counsel so it comes across as disjointed. the prosecutor was asking what happened before and after the assault. one thing she has not asked about is the actual assault but in her opening statement, dr blasey ford did

describe that moment that took place ata describe that moment that took place at a small gathering at the house just outside washington, dc in the summer of 1982. it is gut—wrenching. you should take a listen. when i got to the top of the stairs i was pushed from behind into your bedroom across from the bathroom. i couldn't see you push me. brett and mark came into the bedroom and locked the door behind them. there was music playing in the bedroom. it was turned up loud by either brett or mark once they were in the room. i was pushed onto the bed and brett got on top of me. he began running his hands over my me. he began running his hands over d me. he began running his hands over my body... i yelled, hoping that someone downstairs mikey any. i tried to get away from him but his weight was heavy. brett groped me and try to take off my clothes. he had a hard time because he was very

inebriated and because i was wearing a one—piece bathing suit underneath my clothing. i believed he was going to rape me. i try to yell for help. when i did, brett put his hand over my mouth to stop me from yelling. this is what terrified me the most and has had the most lasting impact on my life. it was hard for me to breathe, and i thought that brett was accidentally going to kill me. that was dr blasey ford describing the actual moment when she says that brett kava naugh assaulted the actual moment when she says that brett kavanaugh assaulted her in that house in 1982. let's speak to a former chief counsel for nominations on the senatejudiciary committee, she is on capitol hill for us. you said you would be looking to see whether her account was credible and whether her account was credible and whether she seemed confused about remembering some of the details. what have you made of what dr blasey

ford said so far? chic across as an authentic, sincere and portable witness and many people across the country and across the world were touched by the story. i think she was very touched by the story. i think she was very clear that there is no mistaken identity come, that she knows with absolute certainty that it was brett kavanaugh who assaulted with his friend and it was chilling to hear her talking about the memory of the two then laughing as she being assaulted and he was trying to stop her screams with his hand and that she feared for her life. i think that she testified truthfully andi think that she testified truthfully and i know that some say that she believes what she says. i think she knows exactly what happens and she told that story truthfully to the people of this country and the world. lisa, let's talk about that a little bit more. it is one of the points that has been raised by brett kavanaugh supporters, points that has been raised by brett kava naugh supporters, that points that has been raised by brett kavanaugh supporters, that it is quite possible that this happen to you christine blasey ford, listening to testimony this morning, most

people would believe that something terrible happened to her, but they do not believe that it was brett kavanaugh do not believe that it was brett kava naugh was do not believe that it was brett kavanaugh was in the room at her who committed the assault. she was asked directly twice by democratic senators, are you absolutely sure that it was brett kavanaugh, and her a nswer that it was brett kavanaugh, and her answer was 100%. do you think that her 100% answer will have changed any minds on that committee, about where the tap into her, and whether it was brett kavanaugh we did it? u2 it was brett kavanaugh we did it? u2 it should have change their mind and it should have change their mind and it may well have changed minds on the full senate. we hear these sorts of ste n nett the full senate. we hear these sorts of stennett statements by men accused of assault. we are bit yesterday by president trump by saying that, he knew men who had been accused of assault and do not behave that way. many men do not know how other men treat women behind closed doors and this insta nce behind closed doors and this instance you have a woman who testified credibly and she has said that could be other witnesses who could attest a similar battle of

behaviour in terms of brett kavanaugh ‘s behaviour in terms of brett kava naugh '5 treatment behaviour in terms of brett kavanaugh '5 treatment of women and i think that goes to the question of who you are going to believe, especially with brett kavanaugh's track record of misleading the senate in his previous testimony. we are 2.5 hours into this hearing. we have not yet heard from brett kavanaugh at this stage. it is safe to say that christine blasey ford by most people'sadmission comes across asa most people'sadmission comes across as a credible, believable, calm and sympathetic witness, somebody who is frightened of the situation she is m, frightened of the situation she is in, she is nervous, and i think the word would be that she's been nice to people in that hearing. we have not yet heard from brett kavanaugh. you know as the former chief counsel in thejudicial you know as the former chief counsel in the judicial committee on the democratic side, that humans can change. does the position that we are in now mean it is going to be the same position at the end of the day once we have heard from brett kavanaugh himself? it is not clear what will happen in the afternoon.

brett kava naugh what will happen in the afternoon. brett kavanaugh spent most of last week practising his answers at the white house with a so—called motherboard. we know that he is prepared to deny forcefully her charges, that he either knew her or that any of this happened. this sets up that any of this happened. this sets upa sort that any of this happened. this sets up a sort of he said she said situation which is in some ways aren't there because there are other witnesses were simply not in the room, we have not been subpoenaed to testify. we will see what happens this afternoon, but certainly, doctor ford made a prima facie case about how she witnessed and how she was treated by brett kavanaugh and markjudge. what do you make of rachel mitchell's questioning so far? she has a difficult job because the chairman has constrained her in terms of the amount of time allowed to ask questions. this is not the

way, this was an fbi investigation which has happened in every other instance, the fbi would not be constrained to ask five minute questions, they would ask questions that are relevant and necessary for long as as necessary to get the truth on the record. thank you very much forjoining us. as we have been saying all along we have been hearing from democratic senators. we have only heard from the chairman of the republican side, who gave an opening statement, and he has interjected a few times, but we have not been hearing at all from his republican colleagues. we have heard from several democratic senators. they will get the chance to question christine blasey ford. they started the top ranking democrat on the senatejudiciary the top ranking democrat on the senate judiciary committee, the top ranking democrat on the senatejudiciary committee, let's listen to the questions about the issue of mistaken identity. you were very clear about the attack, being pushed into the room, so you don't

know quite by whom, but that it was brett kava naugh that know quite by whom, but that it was brett kavanaugh that covered your mouth to prevent you from screaming and then you escaped. how are you so sure that it was he? the same way that i am sure that i am talking to you right now. just basic memory functions. and also just the part of the brain that encodes that no tra nsfer the brain that encodes that no transfer into the hippocampus and so the trauma related experience is kind of lock the whereas other details kind of growth. what you are telling aussies that this could not bea telling aussies that this could not be a case of mistaken identity. absolutely not. christine blasey ford. we were talking about this, she is but a witness and an expert in this particular case because she

does have this background as a professor of psychology where she can bring the size into her answers as we were hearing, there. that is bolstering her credibility and making it harder for the bolstering her credibility and making it harderfor the prosecuting counsel to bring up these questions because she is somebody you know some of the science of what she's talking about, particularly the issue of memory, which is a critical around this issue of mistaken identity. she has been categorical about her memory. she has also been very clear about what she does not remember. she has said i don't remember, i don't know, i'm not sure about that, she is choosing her words very carefully. let's bring in our north america correspondent. there was a short break earlier in the morning. i was listening to fox news, which is everybody knows, is a channel in the united states that is sympathetic to president trump, a news channel that he listens to you lot and likes what he is on the. i was struck by the fox news anchor saying that they did not feel that this was going well for the

republicans in the committee. are you getting any feedback on capitol hill, from people on the committee? certainly in relation to the point you made about fox news, i'vejust been watching some police in the last few minutes which suggest that fox news are now saying that they believed christine blasey ford is a credible witness. that is crucial, because of course, this is all about how she is seen by republicans and democrats and of course fox news is a conservative station saying that, which is very significant. one of the things that struck me watching this is, the one republican who is speaking, chuck grassley, how he is being viewed, i been watching reactions on my twitter feed, people believing that he's not really setting the right tone and not doing the republicans much of a favour, in terms of the way he began, for example, when he spoke, he praised judge kavanaugh and then when we saw

diane feinstein's speech she pointed out that he hadn't actually introduced properly christine blasey ford. he said, no, iwas introduced properly christine blasey ford. he said, no, i was going to get to that in a minute but many people that i've seen on twitter said that just people that i've seen on twitter said thatjust displays the fact that he has gone into this with a one—sided viewpoint and he's the only republican that is able to speak in that today, because as we know, they have rachel mitchell in there, on their behalf.” know, they have rachel mitchell in there, on their behalf. i will have to choose my words more carefully like christine blasey ford is doing, you are hearing the studio with me in washington. what did you make of this format of the democrats asking questions and the republicans' counsel trying to build a case but she gets interrupted every five minutes, and that is making it harderfor her than minutes, and that is making it harder for her than it would minutes, and that is making it harderfor her than it would be in a normal trial proceeding when there is no time limit on the questioning? yellin macro that is a drawback for her. she's clearly a criminal

prosecutor, but this is not a criminal proceeding, this is a job interview as many people are saying, and a chance for christine blasey ford and willjudge kavanaugh to state their stories. that is the challenge, and in this five—minute chunks she's not able to really extend or set out her arguments in that timeframe. the other thing for the democrats is that they have been very clever and making sure that the female senators have been the ones you have begun with the questioning. and dan feinstein stating some facts that transcend party lines. she began by saying, sexual violence is a serious problem, one that goes on scene, and whether you are republican or democrat, that there isa republican or democrat, that there is a statement of fact. wings like that will be very powerful for people