Klobuchar: But we'd like the FBI to be able to ask questions of him.
Klobuchar: Sober in AA at age 90. You have said that you never drank so much as to not remember what happened. We have heard otherwise.
Klobuchar: Drinking is one thing. But the concern is about truthfulness. Did you ever drink so much that you can't remember what happened or part of what happened the night before? [No, and I wonder whether you have.]
Klobuchar: Drinking is one thing, but the concern is about truthfulness. In written testimony, you said sometimes you drank too much. [No, I remember what happened.] Never a case where you drank so much that you didn't remember? [Have you?]
Grassley now quoting Biden as dismissing importance of FBI investigations. FBI does not make conclusions or recommendations.
Whitehouse: I have, others have, asked for FBI investigation. It's not so much the conclusion an FBI investigation draws, but the breadth of evidence that is brought out, and the difference one might say to an FBI agent than to a lawyer.
Whitehouse: The first background investigation in history not re-opened when new information like you mentioned brought up.
Fifteen minute break now.
Okay, we are getting going again.
Kavanaugh apologizes to Klobuchar about asking whether she had ever blacked out. Klobuchar says she appreciates that; when you're the child of an alcoholic, you are careful about your drinking.
Hatch, R-Utah is speaking.
Hatch: This man is not a monster.
It's not clear what order the Republicans are going in. Mitchell was ceded time by three of them, but it's not clear which ones and now they are asking their own questions in what appears to be a random order.
Hatch: We agree that if Kavanaugh committed this assault, he should not be confirmed. But the circus atmosphere after Democrats sat on allegation has not helped us.
Hatch: This is worse than Bork and Thomas and I didn't think it could get worse than that. This is a national disgrace.
Kavanaugh was an immature high schooler. That he wrote or said stupid things doesn't make him a sexual predator.
Hatch: Guilt by association is wrong. That Kavanaugh drank in high school and college does not make him guilty of what he's been accused of.
Hatch: When did you first learn of allegations?
Immaturity does not equal criminality. A lifetime of respect and equal treatment ought to mean something.
Kavanaugh: A week ago Sunday with the WaPo story.
Hatch: Did ranking member raise when you met or in hearing or written questions? [No] First time asked by ranking member about allegation? [Today]
Coons: I've found some of your answers evasive on key issues.
Against backdrop of previous hearing sessions is how Coons is assessing today's testimony.
Coons: Have you ever gotten aggressive while drinking or forgotten an evening? [Two questions, as for the first, basically no, what are you talking about?]
Coons: Do you remember Liz Swisher?
Coons: She said Brett Kavanaugh drank more than a lot of people. How should we assess that?
Coons: Quoting other college classmates re Kavanaugh's drinking.
Coons: Why not agree to a one-week pause to allow the FBI to investigate these allegations in order to clear your name? [All four witnesses alleged to be at the event said it didn't happen.]
Coons: If you were conducting a job search for a very important position and a credible allegation about a candidate came up near the end of the process, wouldn't you want to investigate further?
Coons: I've struggled with the absence of a fair, neutral, law-enforcement investigation. I'm concerned with what this will do to the credibility of the court and will hang over your service.
Kavanaugh: For us, every day has been a lifetime. It's been investigated.
Grassley: There could have been time over the summer for an investigation.
Lee: You do not control the FBI, correct? [That's correct]
Lee: Feinstein had a moral obligation to contact the FBI when she first heard about the allegations.
Lee: But whenever we asked you questions, you were attentive and responsive. Two ironies. At least one of my colleagues had access to this information weeks before anyone else. Also, calling for investigation by FBI while we are in the middle of a conversation with you.
Lee: During Clarence Thomas hearing, Biden made observations about FBI -- FBI does not reach conclusions or recommendations
Sasse slides in for last minute to Lee, so Kennedy can have his time.
Sasse: I think Dr. Ford is a victim. But Feinstein had recommended she hire a lawyer before the first hearing, and this was never asked?
Blumenthal: False in one thing, false in everything -- jury instructions mean that jury can disbelieve witness if find him to be false in one thing. The core of why we are here is credibility. [Core of why we're here is because of allegation the four witnesses say didn't happen.]
Blumenthal asked about Renate Alumnus, Kavanaugh says question is false.
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