Trump mocks Kavanaugh accuser’s testimony
Washington: US President Donald Trump has ridiculed the testimony of Christine Ford, the woman who made sexual assault charges against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
At a rally in Mississippi on Tuesday, Trump cast doubts on the version of events presented by Ford under oath during testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, in which she described in detail the alleged sexual assault committed by Kavanaugh, CNN reported.
“How did you get home? ‘I don’t remember’. How’d you get there? ‘I don’t remember’. Where is the place? ‘I don’t remember’. How many years ago was it?’ I don’t know’,” Trump said, apparently mocking Ford’s responses.
“‘What neighbourhood was it in? ‘I don’t know’, Where’s the house? ‘I don’t know’. Upstairs, downstairs, where I was. I don’t know. But I had one beer. That’s the only thing I remember,” he added.
The President said Ford’s testimony had “shattered” Kavanaugh and his family and added that those who had supported the allegations — an apparent reference to the Democrats — were “evil”.
However, earlier Trump called Ford a “credible” and “compelling” witness.
In her testimony, Ford had said that she was “100 per cent sure” that Kavanaugh had attempted to rape her in 1982 when they were teenagers. The top court nominee denies this.
The allegations led to the FBI opening a probe against Kavanaugh ahead of the Senate vote to confirm or reject his nomination to the Supreme Court.
According to Ford’s lawyers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation didn’t speak to her yet and said it was “inconceivable” that the agency may conduct a thorough investigation without interviewing her.
The investigation is due to be completed by Friday.
In addition to Ford, at least two other women have levelled sexual abuse charges against Kavanaugh, while some of his acquaintances have also raised doubts about the veracity of some of his sworn statements, particularly in relation to his drinking habits during his youth.