As it happened: Supreme Court nominee and accuser testify

Summary

Brett Kavanaugh testifies before the Senate that he is the victim of an "orchestrated political hit"
President Trump's Supreme Court nominee angrily says his family has been destroyed by the allegations
Earlier, Christine Blasey Ford said Judge Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her 36 years ago
Her voice cracking, she said she thought he was going to rape her, and she is "100%” sure it was him
The balance of power on America's highest court, which makes rulings affecting all American lives, is at stake

Live Reporting

Max Matza and Ritu Prasad

Conservative scepticismpublished at 18:41 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
Donald Trump Jr has retweeted several messages of users who have raised questions over Ford's allegations.
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What is Fox News saying?published at 18:40 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
Reporters are scrutinising Fox News commentary as the cable network is President Trump's favourite news source.
Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace, who earlier told viewers two of his daughters had been inspired by Ford to share their own stories of sexual harassment, called the hearing "a disaster" for Republicans.
Correspondent Brit Hume said: "The more hesitant, the more fragile she has seemed, the more credible and powerful she seems to the audience."
As he entered the White House earlier on Thursday, Trump did not answer when asked if was considering putting forth a different nominee instead of Kavanaugh.
Will Trump drop Kavanaugh?published at 18:39 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
US media are reporting Republican Senate leaders have not spoken to Trump about whether he is considering withdrawing Kavanaugh.
And the president is reportedly unhappy with the way things are going.
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We're back onpublished at 18:37 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
Christine Blasey Ford returns to the hot seat.
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'Rape culture in real time'published at 18:33 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
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Who has spoken so far?published at 18:32 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
All of the seven Republican senators that have had a turn so far have ceded their time to special prosecutor Rachel Miller.
Seven Democras - only one of them female - have already spoken.
Four Republican senators and three Democrats have yet to go when the hearing resumes soon.
Conservatives reactpublished at 18:31 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
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We want to hear from youpublished at 18:24 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
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Hundreds of protesters at Capitolpublished at 18:21 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
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Kavanaugh departs Maryland homepublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
Image source, Pool
Judge Kavanaugh has left his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland for the hearing.
A security detail tried to prevent him from being seen by reporters, who have been waiting outside his home.
He refused to answer any questions as he got into the waiting SUV.
Image source, Pool
Questions around Ford's testimonypublished at 18:15 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
More reaction of those who have raised questions over Ford testimony.
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Calls to postpone votepublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
Three Republican governors have called for the confirmation vote on Mr Kavanaugh to be postponed as Ford testified.
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Rosenstein meeting canceledpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
The future of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was the other hot topic on Washington's agenda today, as a meeting was expected between him and President Trump.
No longer. The White House says it has postponed the meeting, saying it did not want to "interfere" with the hearing happening at the Senate, according to the Associated Press..
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'Indelible laughter at my expense'published at 17:54 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
Media caption,
Ford describes 'indelible laughter at my expense'
Polygraph test: 'I remember crying a lot'published at 17:52 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
When asked by Mitchell if she's ever received any tips on how to take a polygraph, Ford says:
"I was scared of the test itself but was comfortable that I could tell the information and the test could reveal whatever it was going to reveal."
Ford also answers that she's never given tips or advice about taking polygraph tests.
"Did you pay for the polygraph yourself?"
"I don't think so." Ford also says she doesn't know who paid for it.
"Did you know the committee has requested charts, audio, video recordings from the test?"
"Were you audio and video recorded when you took that test?"
"I remember being hooked up to a machine...being asked a lot of questions...crying a lot. That's my primary memory of that test. I know he took laborious detail into explaining what he was going to be doing, but I was just focused on what I was going to say and my fear...I wasn't listening to every detail."
Thousands protest outside the hearingpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
According to a gallery aide, about 1,200 protesters are at the Senate office buildings, CBS News reports.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Polygraph on same day as gran's funeralpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
Ford calls the lie-detector test that she did "stressful".
"I told my whole life story. I endured it. It was fine."
She is now taking questions on the polygraph from the Republican appointed prosecutor.
She adds that she took the test after departing from her grandmother's funeral, and that it was conducted at a hotel near the Washington DC airport.
"So he administered a polygraph on the same day as your grandmother's funeral?" asks prosecutor Rachel Mitchel.
Ford says "correct, or it might have been the next day".
"I spent the night in the hotel. I don't remember the exact day."
Lunch recess beginspublished at 17:43 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
A 30-minute lunch break has just begun.
'Why did you take a polygraph?'published at 17:39 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
"Why did you decide to take a polygraph?" prosecutor Mitchell asks.
"I didn't see any reason not to do it," Ford answers.
When Mitchell asks if she was advised to do that, Ford's lawyer steps in again and says it seems like she's being asked to violate counsel-client privacy.
Grassley interjects again and asks if she could respond to an extent that doesn't violate that relationship.
"Based on the advice of the counsel, I was happy to undergo the polygraph test although I found it extremely stressful. Much longer than I anticipated. I told my whole life story, I felt like. But I endured it," Ford answers after a pause.
She says she's never taken any other polygraphs in her life.
NYT sorry for 'credibility' pollpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 27 September 2018
Meanwhile, the New York Times has deleted and apologised over a poll posted on its Opinion page on Twitter asking users if they found Ford testimony credible.
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