- Title: Ford says she was 'comfortable' with whatever polygraph test would reveal
- Date: 27th September 2018
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 27, 2018) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) PAN FROM MEMBERS OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE WOMAN ACCUSING TRUMP SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEATED AT TABLE DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE WOMAN ACCUSING TRUMP SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT LISTENING AS (OFF CAMERA) ASKING: "Why did you decide to take a polygraph?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE WOMAN ACCUSING TRUMP SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SAYING: "I didn't see any reason not to." SIDE VIEW OF FORD AT TABLE WITH ATTORNEYS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE WOMAN ACCUSING TRUMP SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SAYING: "Attorneys asked if I was willing to take it (polygraph test) and I said, "Absolutely." (SOUNDBITE) (English) RACHEL MITCHELL, A SEX CRIMES PROSECUTOR HIRED BY REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO QUESTION FORD, SAYING: "Have you ever had discussions with anyone besides your attorneys on how to take a polygraph?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE WOMAN ACCUSING TRUMP SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SAYING: "No, I was scared of the test itself but I was comfortable that I could tell the information and the test would reveal whatever it was going to reveal. I didn't expect it to be as long as it was going to be. So, it was a little bit stressful." WIDE OF HEARING FORD LISTENING AS MITCHELL (OFF CAMERA) ASKS: "Did you pay for the polygraph yourself?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE WOMAN ACCUSING TRUMP SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SAYING: "No. I don't I don't think so." WIDE OF HEARING FORD LISTENING AS MITCHELL (OFF CAMERA) ASKS: "I believe you said it hasn't been paid for yet. Is that correct?" FORD'S ATTORNEY DEBRA KATZ LEANING IN AND GRABBING MICROPHONE AND SAYING: "Let me put an end to this mystery. Her lawyers have paid for her polygraph - as is routine." FORD'S OTHER ATTORNEY MICHAEL BROMWICH LEANING IN AND SAYING: "As is routine." FORD LISTENING AS MITCHELL (OFF CAMERA) ASKS: "Do you expect the price of that polygraph to be passed on to you?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE WOMAN ACCUSING TRUMP SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SAYING: "I'm not sure that I haven't taken a look at all of the costs involved in this. We've relocated now twice so I haven't kept track of all of that paperwork but I'm sure I have a lot of work to do to catch up on all of that later." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE WOMAN ACCUSING TRUMP SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SAYING: "I wish that I could be more helpful and that others could be more helpful and we could collaborate in a way that would get at more information." (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) SENATOR COREY BOOKER (DEMOCRAT - NEW JERSEY) SAYING: "You are speaking truth that this country needs to understand and how we deal with survivors who come forward right now is unacceptable and the way we deal with this, unfortunately, allows for the continued darkness of this culture to exist and your brilliance, shining light onto this, speaking your truth, is nothing short of heroic." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) SENATOR KAMILLA HARRIS (DEMOCRAT - CALIFORNIA) SAYING: "You have bravely come forward. You have bravely come forward and I want to thank you because you clearly have nothing to gain for what you have done. FORD LOOKING EMOTIONAL (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) SENATOR KAMILLA HARRIS (DEMOCRAT - CALIFORNIA) SAYING: "I believe history will show that you are a true profile in courage." WIDE OF HEARING HARRIS AND BOOKER IN CONVERSATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) RACHEL MITCHELL, A SEX CRIMES PROSECUTOR HIRED BY REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO QUESTION FORD, SAYING: "The best way to do it...the best practices for interviewing victims of trauma. Now, would you believe me if I told you that there is no study that says that this setting, in five minute increments, is the best way to do that." FORD AND HER ATTORNEYS LAUGHING/ ATTORNEYS SAYING: "We'll stipulate to that." (SOUNDBITE) (English) RACHEL MITCHELL, A SEX CRIMES PROSECUTOR HIRED BY REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO QUESTION FORD, SMILING AND SAYING: "Thank you counsel." WIDE OF HEARING (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) CHAIRMAN OF SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHARLES GRASSLEY (REPUBLICAN - IOWA) SAYING: "I'd like to thank Dr. Ford....In fact, we're going to continue this meeting and we can....so let's just be nice to her." FORD SMILING AS HER ATTORNEY RAISES HER ARMS IN RESPONSE (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) CHAIRMAN OF SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHARLES GRASSLEY (REPUBLICAN - IOWA) SAYING: "I can only speak as one of 21 senators here but I thank you very much for your testimony (SOMEONE OFF CAMERA SAYS: "Oh my God." More importantly, for your bravery coming out and trying to answer our questions as best you could remember. Thank you very much." KATZ HUGGING FORD FORD GREETING HARRIS AND BOOKER BEFORE LEAVING THE ROOM
- Embargoed: 11th October 2018 21:09
- Keywords: sexual judge Christine Blasey Ford assault Donald Trump misconduct Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0018ZEI0CN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A university professor on Thursday said she felt 'comfortable' taking a polygraph test regarding her allegation that Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, sexually assaulted her 36 years ago, on Thursday (September 27).
Addressing the Senate judiciary committee, Christine Blasey Ford said her attorneys raised the idea of a polygraph test in August and that it was administered by a former FBI agent.
"I was comfortable that I could tell the information and the test would reveal whatever it was going to reveal. I didn't expect it to be as long as it was going to be. So, it was a little bit stressful."
I could tell the information and the test would reveal whatever it was going to reveal. I didn't expect it to be as long as it was going to be. So, it was a little bit stressful."
Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California, said over four hours of testimony that a drunken Kavanaugh attacked her and tried to remove her clothing at a gathering of teenagers in Maryland when he was 17 years old and she was 15 in 1982.
The hearing, which has riveted Americans and intensified the political polarization in the United States, occurred against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault.
Democrats lauded Ford's testimony as credible, brave and, in the words of Senator Cory Booker, "nothing short of heroic."
"I believe history will show that you are a true profile in courage," Democratic Senator Kamala Harris said.
Ford was seated at a table in the packed hearing room flanked by her lawyers, facing a bank of senators. Cameras from news photographers clicked as she entered the room and took her seat, smiling nervously. Ford told the senators she was "terrified" to testify but felt it was her civic duty come forward. The audience at the hearing remained in rapt attention.
Some Democrats have called on Kavanaugh to withdraw in light of the allegations.
The controversy has unfolded just weeks ahead of the Nov. 6 congressional elections in which Democrats are trying to seize control of Congress from the Republicans. Kavanaugh's confirmation would cement conservative control of the high court as Trump moves to shift it and the broader federal judiciary to the right. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None