Brett Kavanaugh - LIVE: White House stands by Trump's mockery of Christine Ford as FBI probe continues ahead of confirmation vote
The president is mired in controversy after attempting to defend his Supreme Court nominee
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Key Republicans are having their support for Brett Kavanaugh tested after Donald Trump mocked his Supreme Court nominee’s sexual assault accuser at a campaign rally in Mississippi.
The president joked about Dr Ford's testimony to a laughing crowd on Wednesday, criticising her for failing to remember every detail from the night she alleges Mr Kavanaugh assaulted her during a high school party nearly 36 years ago.
Meanwhile, the FBI has reportedly neared the conclusion of its probe into the embattled nominee ahead of the Senate Judiciary Committee deadline of Friday — despite numerous potential witnesses indicating they have not yet spoken with investigators from the federal agency, including Dr Ford.
Arizona Republican Jeff Flake, who forced the majority to take a one-week delay and allow for an FBI investigation into the sexual assault claims against Mr Kavanaugh, denounced the president’s comments in an interview with NBC.
Follow along with The Independent as the rest of Capitol Hill reacts to the latest developments.
Welcome to The Independent's live blog of Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation battle for Wednesday 3 October 2018.
Please allow the live blog a moment to upload as developments come in throughout the day.
Catch up on the embattled Supreme Court nominee's confirmation battle by reading yesterday's live blog here.
Donald Trump has stirred another controversy surrounding his Supreme Court nominee, after mocking Brett Kavanaugh's sexual assault accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, during a campaign rally last night.
Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican and a key vote in Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation battle, said Wednesday on NBC’ “Today” that mocking “something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right.”
“I wish he hadn’t done it,” the senator said. “It’s kind of appalling.”
It remains unclear how Mr Flake will vote on the embattled nominee's confirmation. Last week, the senator called for a one week delay so the FBI could renew an investigation into the federal judge, while simultaneously voting to confirm his nomination in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
As the FBI attempts to conclude its investigation into Brett Kavanaugh ahead of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Friday deadline, numerous potential witnesses have called the federal agency to deliver information they believe could be useful for investigators conducting the probe.
Christine Blasey Ford, who could be considered one of the most crucial witnesses in her own allegations of sexual assault against the federal judge, was not contacted by the FBI by Tuesday, her lawyers said.
In a letter to FBI director Christopher Wray, Dr Ford’s lawyers wrote, “It is inconceivable that the FBI could conduct a thorough investigation of Dr. Ford’s allegations without interviewing her, Judge Kavanaugh, or the witnesses we have identified in our letters to you.”
Donald Trump has tweeted his defence for Brett Kavanaugh in all-caps, writing, “VOTERS ARE REALLY ANGRY AT THE VICIOUS AND DESPICABLE WAY DEMOCRATS ARE TREATING BRETT KAVANAUGH!”
“He and his wonderful family deserve much better,” the president continued.
Donald Trump Jr has defended Brett Kavanaugh in an interview with NewsMax TV, saying, "It's a scary precedent because it means that no one is safe. If this guy isn’t safe, no one is safe."
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has called for more evidence from Christine Blasey Ford and her lawyers in a letter, raising “specific concerns about the reliability of her polygraph results”.
The letter arrived after a man claiming to be Dr Ford’s ex-boyfriend said she had in the past “explained in detail what to expect, how polygraphs worked, and helped [a friend] become familiar and less nervous about the exam.”
The full letter can be read below.
Here’s the letter from an alleged ex-boyfriend of Dr Christine Blasey Ford, who has remained anonymous and claimed she coached a friend through a polygraph exam.
The supposed ex-boyfriend also said Dr Ford had never brought up any assault, and was not fearful of flying on planes like she said she was during her testimony last week.
It appears Senate Democrats who may have been willing to vote for Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee aren't budging after Brett Kavanaugh's fiery testimony last week and the following FBI investigation into his sexual assault accusations.
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