The confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was contentious, but still, the federal judge was expected to be confirmed by the Senate – until a psychology professor came forward to publicly accuse him of sexual assault.
Christine Blasey Ford has said Kavanaugh assaulted her while at a house party in the early 1980s, when they were teenagers. She said Kavanaugh held her on a bed, attempted to remove her clothes and held his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.
After some back-and-forth between Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ford’s attorneys, both Ford and Kavanaugh appear set to testify before lawmakers on Sept. 27.
As the details about the hearing continue to change, here’s an up-to-date look at what to expect from the much-anticipated hearing.
When is the hearing?
The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a committee hearing continuation for Thursday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. It will be public.
The hearing will be held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Who will testify?
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh spent most of his teen years at the preparatory school in the 1980’s. And exactly what happened one summer night during that time has become a question that threatens to unravel his chances of joining the nation’s highest court. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Both Kavanaugh and Ford are expected to testify at the hearing, with Ford going first. She is expected to tell lawmakers about her accusation: Kavanaugh allegedly pinned her to a bed, tried to remove her clothes and covered her mouth with his hand while at a house party in the early 1980s.
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Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the allegations and has said he’d be willing to testify to clear his name ever since the accusation came to light.
What are some conditions?
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, wrangled with Ford’s team ahead of the scheduled hearing over the terms of her appearance. He was able to grant some of her requests.
After originally being planned for Monday, the hearing was moved to Thursday. It will take place in a smaller room with only one camera and “limited press access.”
Ford was also guaranteed the ability to be able to testify without Kavanaugh in the room, “adequate breaks” and security.
However, the committee did not agree to other demands, including: making Kavanaugh testify first and only allowing senators to ask questions.
Who will ask the questions?
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (left) confers with other committee members, Sens. Patrick Leahy and Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
In the hearing proposal, the Judiciary Committee said it was reserving the right to have female staff attorneys question Kavanaugh and Ford during the hearing because they are “sensitive to the particulars of Dr. Ford’s allegations and are experienced investigators.”
The GOP side of the Judiciary Committee is made up of 11 men – which could send an unwanted message on live television against the backdrop of the #MeToo era.
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Democratic senators, however, are expected to ask their own questions during the hearing, according to The Associated Press.
Will there be any witnesses?
Despite requests from Ford’s lawyers to pick witnesses for the hearing, it’s up to the Judiciary Committee to determine what witnesses are called. Specifically, her attorneys have demanded Mark Judge – a friend of Kavanaugh whom Ford said was in the room when the alleged incident occurred – be subpoenaed and forced to testify as a witness.
Judge has already denied the allegations before the Judiciary Committee, according to lawmakers. Additionally, the Judiciary Committee “does not take witness requests from other witnesses,” the proposal said.
Who sits on the Judiciary Committee?
Grassley is the chairman of the committee. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is the ranking member of the committee.
The Republicans on the committee are: Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Ted Cruz of Texas, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Kennedy of Louisiana.
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The Democrats on the committee are: Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Chris Coons of Delaware, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California.
Anything else?
Grassley has agreed to postpone the Judiciary Committee’s vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
The Senate Judiciary Committee typically recommends a Supreme Court nominee to the full Senate for a vote. The committee can give a favorable or unfavorable recommendation – or none at all.
Fox News’ Gregg Re and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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