Klobuchar (D-Minn.) pointing out that for Anita Hill, President Bush ordered the investigation opened. Grassley calls on Mitchell for Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah
Mitchell asking about therapy notes Ford may have shown to WaPost reporter.
Mitchell: Brett Kavanaugh's name is not in those notes? [Correct]
Mitchell: Have other things "contributed" to PTSD?
Ford: That was a critical risk factor, doesn't mean other things in my life would have made it worse or better.
Ford: I can't rule out any biological predispositions.
Ford: Can't think of anything environmental that might have contributed, at least not as striking as this assault.
Mitchell: You told husband that you had been a victim of physical abuse. In statement, you said before marriage that you were victim of sexual assault. Same incident and did you use any names? [Yes and no.]
Mitchell: You said you would not commit to an interview with the committee because of fear of flying, is that true? [Yes ... I eventually was able to get up the gumption to get on the plane.]
Mitchell: You fly fairly frequently? [Correct, unfortunately]
Klobuchar, D-Minn, in my old job prosecuted cases like this. I always told the women that they would have to tell story before jury; you have had to tell it before the nation. It used to be that what happened in the house didn't belong in the courthouse. Times have changed.
Klobuchar: Why did you take polygraph test?
Ford: Attorneys asked if I was willing, but it was anxiety-inducing.
Klobuchar: If we had employment records of Mark Judge, would that help you be more precise with timing?
Klobuchar: Federal rule of evidence that statements to medical professionals considered more reliable.
Ford: In records twice, first in couples therapy in 2012 and in 2013 with individual therapist.
Klobuchar: You're concerned with privacy. Why did you want account confidential?
Ford: Original intent was to convey account when other possible nominees could be selected.
Klobuchar: People are focused on what you cannot remember. I think you remember a lot. Can you tell us what you don't forget. [Stairwell, bedroom, bathroom in close proximity, the laugher, the multiple attempts to escape, the final ability to do so.]
Grassley is saying that the committee would have gone to California.
Klobuchar asks to have polygraph report entered into record.
Klobuchar: Mr. Chairman, you would not allow the witness who prepared the polygraph test to testify.
Mitchell for Ted Cruz, R-Texas
Mitchell: Would like to discuss last several months. You said on July 6, sense of urgency to relay information to president and Senate. Did you contact either? [No, I did not know how to do that.]
Mitchell: Why did you contact Washington Post on July 6?
Ford: I was panicking because I knew the timeline was short on the decision.
People were giving me advice on the beach about what to do.
Felt the best option was to try to go the civic route.
Ford: Called Eshoo's office and the anonymous tip at WaPo, none got back to me before the nomination.
Eshoo's office contacted her on the date the nomination was announced.
Mitchell: Who advised you to contact senators or the New York Times? [Beach friends]
Mitchell: Did you contact NYT? [No. I wasn't interested in pursuing media route, so I felt like one was enough. Preference was to contact congressperson.]
Mitchell: What reporter? [Emma Brown]
Mitchell: What did you talk about with Eshoo and staff? [Night of the incident, and I asked her about my options going forward.]
Did she talk with any congressperson? Met with Congresswoman Eshoo and her staff on July 18. Asked her what her options were and talked about fears about whether it would be confidential.
Sen. Coons, D-Delaware, now up.
Coons: This is a public service. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to hear from you today.
Coons: You were motivated by hope that some other highly qualified nominee might be picked, not a late-stage motivation. [Correct]
When you first reached out, Kavanaugh was on the short list but not yet nominated, correct? [yes]
Coons: About 2/3 of sexual assault survivors don't report. You bore this alone for a very long time.
Ford describing impact on her life.
Ford: It's impacted me at different stages in development of life. A fairly disastrous first two years of undergraduate studies at UNC. Then I experienced longer-term impacts of relationship challenges.
Coons: Wide range of reactions. I'm troubled by the idea that boys will be boys. That's far too low a standard of conduct for boys and men in this country. What's your reaction?
Ford: I can only speak for how this has affected me. The younger you are, the worse the impact can actually be.
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