Key US senators criticise Trump for mocking Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford

U.S. Supreme Court nominee judge Brett Kavanaugh looks on during his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. Senators will then likely vote on Saturday to confirm Kavanaugh to the court.

“Instead of trying to sort out with reason and care the allegations that were raised, Judge Kavanaugh responded in an intemperate, inflammatory, and partial manner, as he interrupted and, at times, was discourteous to questioners”, the letter goes on.

At a rally later in Southaven, Mississippi, Mr Trump mocked last week’s Senate testimony by Prof Christine Blasey Ford, without mentioning her by name.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said he asked during a lunch meeting with other Republican senators if multiple copies could be made available, but it was unclear whether GOP leaders agreed to the request.

West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito – like Ford, a graduate of the Holton-Arms School – has said she supports Kavanaugh. Other Republicans conceded that Trump’s insults could be damaging.

“All of us need to keep in mind there’s a few people that are on the fence right now”.

“Let’s let the people decide whether or not their senator was right in voting “no” against this good man”, he said. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) all say they’re undecided on Kavanaugh, though an inconclusive Federal Bureau of Investigation report could be the impetus for any of these senators to back him. As to how she presented herself: “very well, very articulate, even President Trump commended her as to how she presented herself, and Judge Kavanaugh is going to be Matt Damon on “Saturday Night Live” for the rest of his life”, Zaid said.

Kavanaugh has denied the accusations by Ford, by Deborah Ramirez, who says he exposed himself to her during a college party, and by Julie Swetnick, who has alleged she was victimized at a party attended by Kavanaugh and his friends. And she criticized the media and Democratic lawmakers for picking apart every word Kavanaugh has said without giving ample scrutiny to what the White House increasingly characterizes as Ford’s inconsistent comments about the night in question. And, as is the standard procedure, designated Judiciary Committee staff members with the required clearances will be authorized to brief members.

Democrats rebuked the committee’s tweets on the confidential background investigation and urged for a prompt correction.

And health care records reportedly obtained surrounding the 2012 therapy sessions detail that Dr Ford worked from a home office, which Republicans say was the reason for the second door. But background checks do not traditionally contain investigators’ conclusions about who they believe is credible.

Senate Republicans plan the cautious approach amid a debate over how much of the FBI’s investigation into Kavanaugh’s past should be available for public view.

At a political rally in MS on Tuesday night, Trump mocked Ford’s testimony about the alleged assault in Maryland in 1982 when she was 15 and Kavanaugh was 17.

The letter claims the Republican staffers have selectively disclosed evidence and worked to “undermine the credibility of the women who have come forward”. About 6 in 10 said they approve of how Senate Republicans are handling the situation.

According to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley, the FBI’s report on the allegations are not expected to be made public.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said “the president was stating the facts” at a MS rally where he imitated Professor Christine Blasey Ford.