Updated 21:05
Donald Trump’s nominee to the US Supreme Court has claimed that allegations of sexual assault against him are “part of a calculated political hit.”
Brett Kavanaugh has been testifying to the US Senate this evening after his accuser, Dr Christine Blasey Ford, gave a harrowing account of the alleged incident to the gathered politicians.
The high-stakes hearing is a major test of whether Donald Trump's nominee can be confirmed for a life-long appointment to the country's highest court.
His appointment was initially expected to be approved as a matter of course, however three women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against him in recent weeks.
He has vehemently denied all the allegations.
Earlier today, Dr Ford, the first woman to speak out against Judge Kavanaugh, claimed he held her down and groped her during a high school party in 1982.
She said she feared for her life during the alleged incident when she was 15-years-old and he was 17.
She told senators the alleged assault 'drastically altered' her life and dismissed suggestions it could be a case of mistaken identity - telling senators she is "100%" certain Mr Kavanaugh was her alleged attacker.
Picture by: Erin Schaff/DPA/PA Images
“I tried to yell for help,” she said.
“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."
When it was his turn to testify, judge Kavanaugh broke down as he said his reputation had been “totally and permanently destroyed” by the allegations.
Describing the allegations as a "grotesque and calculated character assassination," he said he was not even at the house party in question – although Dr Ford never specified a date for the incident.
Supreme Court Associate Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Picture by Jack Gruber-USA TODAY/Sipa USA
“This has destroyed my family and my good name,” he said. “A good name built up through decades of public service at the highest levels of the American Government.
“This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit.”
He said would “not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process” and labelled the allegations a “co-ordinated and well funded effort to destroy my good name”
“I’m here to tell the truth; I have never sexually assaulted anyone.”
Noting that the US is a “country devoted to due process and the rule of law,” he said: “That means taking allegations seriously.”
“But if the mere allegation, the mere assertion of an allegation - a refuted allegation from 36 years ago - is enough to destroy a person's life and career, we will have abandoned the basic principles of fairness and due process that define our legal system and our country.”
He said he was not questioning that Dr Ford may have been sexually assaulted by someone in some place at some time – but insisted “I have never done that to her or to anyone.”
Responsibility
Dr Christine Blasey Ford
In her opening statement, Dr Ford said: "My motivation in coming forward was to provide the facts about how Mr Kavanaugh’s actions have damaged my life, so that you can take that into serious consideration as you make your decision about how to proceed.
"It is not my responsibility to determine whether Mr Kavanaugh deserves to sit on the Supreme Court. My responsibility is to tell the truth."
She also says that the consequences of speaking out about her allegations have been 'far worse' than she expected, and that she and her family have been forced to move out of their home as a result.
"These past couple of weeks have been the hardest of my life," she said.
"I have had to relive this trauma in front of the world and I have seen my life picked apart by people on television and on Twitter."
She noted: "My family and I have been the target of constant harassment and death threats. I have been called the most vile and hateful names imaginable.
"These messages, while far fewer than the expressions of support, have been terrifying to receive and have rocked me to my core".
Dr Christine Blasey Ford
Two other women - Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick - have also come forward with allegations against Mr Kavanaugh in recent days, with their accusations also dating back to the early 1980s.
Questioned by members of the Senate judiciary committee about Deborah Ramirez's allegations earlier this week, Mr Kavanaugh said: "This didn't happen. I've never done anything like that [...] If something like this had happened, it would have been the talk of campus."
Meanwhile, he has also denied Ms Swetnick's claims - describing the allegations as being from the 'twilight zone'.
Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh
Donald Trump has repeatedly stood by his nominee, accusing Democrats of "working hard to destroy a wonderful man".
Following the emergence of the most recent allegation yesterday, Senate Democrats published a letter calling on Kavanaugh's nomination to be withdrawn - or alternatively for an FBI investigation into the allegations.
His confirmation is now likely to depend on a number of 'moderate' Republicans, and whether today's hearings convince them to vote for or against Mr Kavanaugh.
Additional reporting Michael Staines
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence you can contact the National Rape Crisis Centres’ 24-Hour Helpline on 1800 77 8888.
