WASHINGTON: President Trump has mocked the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at a rally in Mississippi.
“What neighbourhood was it in? I don’t know,” Mr Trump said. “But I had one beer. That’s the only thing I remember. And a man’s life is in tatters.” Days earlier he said Prof Ford was a “credible” and “compelling” witness.
Prof Ford told a Senate committee that Mr Kavanaugh assaulted her as a teenager. He denies this. Trump has ordered the FBI to examine the claims.
However Prof Ford’s lawyers say the FBI have not yet spoken to her and say it is “inconceivable” that the agency could conduct a thorough investigation without interviewing her. The FBI investigation is due to be completed by Friday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has demanded that the Senate vote on confirming Mr Kavanaugh this week. He told supporters in the town of Southhaven that his opponents had been “trying to destroy Judge Kavanaugh since the very first second he was announced”.
He then launched into his mockery of Prof Ford’s testimony, saying that she appeared not to remember basic details about the evening the alleged assault took place.
The audience laughed as the president said: “Thirty-six years ago this happened: I had one beer! Well, you think it was?? Nope! It was one beer.
“Oh, good. How’d you get home? I don’t remember. How’d you get there? I don’t remember. Where was the place? I don’t remember.
“How many years ago was it? I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know! I don’t know! What neighbourhood was it in? I don’t know.
“Where’s the house? I don’t know! Upstairs, downstairs, where was it? I don’t know! But I had one beer. That’s the only thing I remember. And a man’s life is in tatters.”
It contrasts with the reaction he gave shortly after Prof Ford’s dramatic testimony to the Senate committee, when he said her testimony was “very compelling” and described her as a “very fine woman”.
