During his Thursday hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh responded to ongoing allegations of sexual misconduct with an impassioned defense of his character, culminating in the judge breaking down in tears as he described how his 10-year-old daughter Liza reacted to the accusations.
“We should pray for the woman,” Kavanaugh tearfully recalled his youngest daughter saying. “That’s a lot of wisdom from a 10-year-old.”
Kavanaugh chokes up recalling how his 10-year-old daughter showed sympathy toward Dr. Blasey Ford the other night, telling her mother, "We should pray for the woman" https://t.co/9FalHY71EC pic.twitter.com/jRG6sxgDLb
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 27, 2018
During his testimony, which followed that of his accuser, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the judge detailed what has been an incredibly emotional confirmation process for both him and his family. After making it through a long and thorough vetting process, Kavanaugh claims Senate Democrats have lodged a “grotesque and obvious character assassination” against a faithful civil servant.
Kavanaugh maintained that he “never sexually assaulted anyone” — not in high school, as Ford has claimed, nor in college, nor at any other time, the judge stated.
"I'm here today to tell the truth," Brett Kavanaugh says. "I have never sexually assaulted anyone, not in high school, not in college, not ever. Sexual assault is horrific." https://t.co/Dzu2JyOIWV pic.twitter.com/mtMAdlN9UE
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) September 27, 2018
“It’s not who I am. It is not who I was. I am innocent of this charge,” he said, calling the allegation “completely inconsistent” with the way he has lived his life both publicly and privately.
Kavanaugh went on to note that while he never assaulted Ford, he does not deny that she may have been sexually assaulted.
“I am not questioning that Dr. Ford may have been sexually assaulted by some person in some place at some time,” he said. “But I have never done that to her or anyone.”
He added that “allegations of sexual assault must always be taken seriously” and “those who make allegations always deserve to be heard,” while noting that the subject of such allegations also deserves to be heard.