GOP’s decision to bring in outside counsel wins praise – from Democrats

Kavanaugh has sat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 2006. “My responsibility is to tell the truth”. After hearing Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony, if we’re ready to vote, we will vote.

“This is not a criminal trial for which the involvement of an experienced sex crimes prosecutor would be appropriate”, Michael Bromwich, an attorney for Ford, wrote in a letter to the committee.

But it’s not just Kavanaugh’s words that matter – it’s the optics.

As senators questioned an irate Kavanaugh and the environment became increasingly vitriolic, Mitchell faded into the foreground, nestled within a semicircle of blustering, finger-pointing senators. Democratic questioners are certain to ask uncomfortable questions about Kavanaugh’s youth that could create defensive or combative moments.

Mitchell is on leave as deputy county attorney in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, and is the division chief of the Special Victims Unit, which deals with sex crimes and family violence. “As soon as the hearing is over, I plan to make known what I’m going to do but again, I go into it with positive feelings about him”. Lefties were speculating last night that the reason Kavanaugh was asked in his phone calls with Committee staffers about some outlandish claims, including ones originating on Twitter, was because Republicans hoped it might discredit more serious claims like Ford’s by association. And in fact, you may see – it may backfire on the Republicans itself.

Mitchell – a graduate of the Arizona State University law school – has worked as a prosecutor since 1993 and spent 12 years running the bureau in the division responsible for the prosecution of sex-related felonies, including adult sexual assault.

Sen. Jeff Flake is an undecided Republican on the Judiciary Committee who is retiring and has made an enemy of Trump. Bob Corker, came out in support of Kavanaugh late Thursday.

“She is a widely recognized expert on the investigation and prosecution of sex crimes and has frequently served as a speaker and instructor on the subject”.

“These records contain private, highly sensitive information that is not necessary for the Committee to assess the credibility of her testimony”, the lawyers said. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

“The Constitution gives the Senate an important role in the confirmation process”, Kavanaugh said in his opening statement.

How will Democrats question Kavanaugh? .

Ford replied that she contacted her representative in Congress, Rep. Anna Eshoo, a Democrat, and that Eshoo recommended contacting Feinstein, a California senator and the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. But during Ford’s hearing, Mitchell was asked to challenge issues like repressed memories, or the length of time survivors sometimes wait to report an assault, that are well known to be part of the dynamics of sexual assault.

Senators Lindsey Graham of SC and John Cornyn of Texas sidelined Mitchell and asked their own questions.

Thursday will be different.

Additionally, there were lingering questions about whether Deborah Ramirez, Kavanaugh’s second accuser, would testify. They understand it. So it may not work out, to have, you know, some of the Republicans want. Richard Blumenthal and Rhode Island Sen. It’s why the GOP tapped Mitchell to ask questions for the members.

“Who is going to speak for all of the 11 Republican senators?” (And toward the end of Ford’s testimony, Mitchell spoke openly with Ford about how the hearing and its series of five-minute increments are not the ideal situation for discussing her allegations.) Complainants are asked to repeat themselves, even when it’s hard, for the sake of veracity.