A riveting, high-stakes exchange of she-said, he-said played out in full view of the world Thursday as Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford traded vastly different versions of their high school days in the summer of 1982, with control of the highest court in the land hanging in the balance.

Under a searing public spotlight, a 香蕉视频直播渢errified香蕉视频直播� Blasey Ford put a face and a voice to her name as she told her harrowing story of an alleged high-school sexual assault she said she is 香蕉视频直播�100 per cent香蕉视频直播� certain was committed by Kavanaugh, Donald Trump香蕉视频直播檚 nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Later in the day, Kavanaugh himself 香蕉视频直播� defiant, at times visibly enraged, other times struggling to hold back tears 香蕉视频直播� refuted Blasey Ford香蕉视频直播檚 claims before the Senate Judiciary Committee, excoriating its Democratic members as being complicit in what he called a 香蕉视频直播渘ational disgrace.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淢y family has been destroyed by this,香蕉视频直播� said Kavanaugh, insisting he was not at the gathering at a suburban Maryland home in the summer of 1982 where Blasey Ford has alleged she was forced into a bedroom and sexually assaulted by a man she has 香蕉视频直播渘o doubt香蕉视频直播� was the nominee.

Earlier, without him in the room, 51-year-old Blasey Ford described fearing for her life when Kavanaugh allegedly covered her mouth to stifle her cries for help.

香蕉视频直播淗e began running his hands over my body and grinding into me,香蕉视频直播� she recounted, describing in detail how her drunken assailant struggled to undress her.

香蕉视频直播淚 believed he was going to rape me,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚 tried to yell for help; when I did, Brett put his hand over my mouth to stop me from yelling. This is what terrified me the most, and has had the most lasting impact on my life: it was hard for me to breathe, and I thought Brett was accidentally going to kill me.香蕉视频直播�

And she denied being part of any political conspiracy: 香蕉视频直播淚 am an independent person and I am no one香蕉视频直播檚 pawn.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Trump says his past accusers influence thinking on Kavanaugh

Blasey Ford spent the morning detailing her story and ably fielding questions 香蕉视频直播� alternatively from Democrats and from Rachel Mitchell, the Arizona sex-crimes prosecutor tapped by Republicans to query witnesses on their behalf.

Where Blasey Ford was muted and self-effacing, Kavanaugh was by turns defiant and defensive.

香蕉视频直播淭his is a circus,香蕉视频直播� he declared, gesticulating at the Democratic side of the dais as he all but accused them of masterminding a 香蕉视频直播漜alculated and orchestrated political hit香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� an echo of the sentiments expressed all week by the man who nominated him.

香蕉视频直播淭his confirmation process has become a national disgrace,香蕉视频直播� and the allegations have 香蕉视频直播渢otally and permanently destroyed香蕉视频直播� his family and good name, he added.

香蕉视频直播淵ou may defeat me in the final vote, but you香蕉视频直播檒l never get me to quit. Never.香蕉视频直播�

During the morning session, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked Blasey Ford how certain she was that Kavanaugh was her attacker. Without hesitation, she replied: 香蕉视频直播�100 per cent.香蕉视频直播�

Then, when asked about the incident香蕉视频直播檚 most indelible moment: the laughter, she said, her voice clear but close to breaking.

香蕉视频直播淭he uproarious laughter between the two, and their having fun at my expense.香蕉视频直播�

Even GOP-friendly Fox News Channel host Chris Wallace had to acknowledge Blasey Ford香蕉视频直播檚 testimony had been 香蕉视频直播渁 disaster香蕉视频直播� for Republicans.

And despite Kavanaugh香蕉视频直播檚 fiery opening statement, things didn香蕉视频直播檛 get much better when Democrats began pressing him on two issues central to the political battle: whether he would support suspending the hearing to allow an FBI investigation, and whether friend Mark Judge, purportedly a witness to the alleged assault, should have been called to testify.

Kavanaugh refused to answer the latter question directly, and grew frustrated with Leahy香蕉视频直播檚 questions about his high school yearbook and its apparent references to excessive drinking and 香蕉视频直播渟exual exploits.香蕉视频直播� Leahy eventually gave up, saying, 香蕉视频直播淲e had a filibuster, but not a single answer.香蕉视频直播�

Durbin appeared to corner Kavanaugh on whether he香蕉视频直播檇 support an FBI investigation, leading to an awkward exchange of silence between the two 香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 telling the truth,香蕉视频直播� the judge shouted repeatedly; 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 innocent香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� before South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham came to his rescue.

Democrats are simply trying to keep the Supreme Court seat open in hopes of winning the White House in two years香蕉视频直播� time, and don香蕉视频直播檛 care if they 香蕉视频直播渄estroy香蕉视频直播� Kavanaugh香蕉视频直播檚 life in the process, Graham said.

香蕉视频直播淭his is the most unethical thing I香蕉视频直播檝e seen since I香蕉视频直播檝e been in politics, and if you really wanted to know the truth, you wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 have done what you did to this guy.香蕉视频直播�

Then, to Kavanaugh: 香蕉视频直播淚f you香蕉视频直播檙e looking for a fair process, you came to the wrong town at the wrong time.香蕉视频直播�

Supreme Court nominations are often hotly contested given the consequences: Kavanaugh香蕉视频直播檚 presence there would ensure conservative control of the high court for a generation, and give Trump and Republicans a badly needed win going into the November midterms.

Those elections could also end the narrow Republican majority in the Senate, which would make getting a conservative justice confirmed even more difficult.

The president took to Twitter moments after the hearings ended, backing Kavanaugh and demanding a confirmation vote in the Senate.

香蕉视频直播淛udge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats香蕉视频直播� search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote!香蕉视频直播�

Then there is the question of two other accusers.

Deborah Ramirez alleges the nominee waved his penis in her face at a drunken dorm party during his first year at Yale. And Michael Avenatti, a lawyer for Julie Swetnick, has accused Kavanaugh and Judge of spiking drinks at parties where there were 香蕉视频直播済ang rapes香蕉视频直播� of intoxicated women.

James McCarten, The Canadian Press

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