Here Are 5 of the Most Riveting Moments of Christine Blasey Ford’s Testimony Before the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

On Thursday, September 27, in Washington, D.C., Dr. Christine Blasey Ford—the Palo Alto University psychology professor who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh of attempting to rape her at a party back in 1982—testified before members of the Senate Judiciary Committee as well as Maricopa County, Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, who was hired by Republicans to question Ford and is an expert in sexual abuse cases. Ford, answering questions from Mitchell and Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed the events of 36 years ago along with her decision to come forward and make her accusation against Kavanaugh.

The hearing commenced around 10 a.m. eastern time, on September 27, with Ford’s testimony concluding by 2:15 p.m. EST. And Kavanaugh, who was not present during Ford’s testimony, was scheduled to appear after a 45-minute recess.

Here are five of the most riveting highlights of Ford’s testimony in Washington, DC.

1. Ford Offered Elaborate Details of Her Alleged Ordeal in 1982

Ford, during her testimony, gave Mitchell and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee elaborate details of the night during the summer of 1982 when, she alleged, Kavanaugh attempted to rape her in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. At the party she attended when she was 15 and Kavanaugh was 17, Ford testified, Kavanaugh pinned her down on a bed while his friend Mark Judge stood by and watched the attempted rape. The two of them, Ford testified, were laughing. And when Sen. Dick Durban asked Ford if she was certain the alleged assailant was Kavanaugh, she responded “100 percent.” 

Ford testified that because she managed to get away from Kavanaugh, he was unable to rape her—and after escaping from him, she hid in a bathroom in the house where the party took place. When Mitchell asked Ford how she got back home after the party, she was unsure but testified that she “did not drive to or from the party.” 

2. Ford Made It Clear That She Welcomes a Comprehensive FBI Investigation

While Senate Democrats have been calling for an FBI investigation of Ford’s allegations against Kavanaugh, Senate Republicans have been adamantly opposed to such an investigation—including Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee and was present during Ford’s testimony. And many of the Democrats present noted Ford’s willingness to submit to FBI scrutiny, which she confirmed during her testimony. Ford testified, “I would be happy to cooperate with the FBI.” 

3. Sen. Richard Blumenthal: President Trump’s Actions with Kavanaugh Are ‘Tantamount to a Coverup’

Mitchell was not the only person at the hearing with a prosecutorial background. Some of the Democratic senators noted that they were former prosecutors, including Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar and Kamala Harris. And Blumenthal was not only critical of Senate Republicans for not wanting an FBI investigation of Ford’s allegations—he was critical of President Trump as well, asserting that Trump’s actions in response to Ford’s allegations are “tantamount to a coverup.” 

4. Rachel Mitchell Gently Tried to Poke Holes in Ford’s Testimony  

In Maricopa County, Arizona, Rachel Mitchell has earned a reputation for being an aggressive prosecutor when it comes to sex crimes. But she appeared at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on behalf of Kavanaugh’s supporters. The prosecutor gently tried to poke holes in Ford’s testimony, inferring that there were gaps in her memory and that her supporters had political motivations. Mitchell was never rude to Ford, however, and never abrasive—and Mitchell maintained a calm, low-key demeanor throughout her questioning. Right-wing pundit Megyn Kelly, appearing on NBC News during the hearing, described Mitchell’s approach as “planting little seeds of doubt” and attempting “death by 1000 cuts.” 

5. Ford and Democratic Senators Noted That She Gladly Submitted to a Polygraph Test

Democratic senators, during the hearing, set out to show Ford’s credibility by pointing out that she not only welcomed the scrutiny of an FBI investigation—she also submitted to a polygraph test on August 7. One of the senators, Cory Booker, described the test as “intrusive” and thanked Ford for submitting to it. When Mitchell asked Ford if she had received any instructions from her attorneys on taking a polygraph test, she responded that no, she hadn’t. And when the Maricopa County prosecutor asked who paid for the polygraph, one of Ford’s attorneys responded that the attorneys paid for it.

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