Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday was poised but emotional, her cracked voice bringing tears to politicians in the audience and women round the country. Not to be outdone, the Supreme Court nominee she has accused of sexually assaulting her in high school was both furious and weepy in defending himself against the allegations. As he choked up during his opening statement, so did Republican senators John Cornyn and Lindsey Graham, according to an NBC reporter.
When Kavanaugh teared up and choked on his words a few moments ago, Graham and Cornyn started tearing up too.
— Leigh Ann Caldwell (@LACaldwellDC) September 27, 2018
In contrast, Cornyn and Graham spared no tears for Blasey, who just minutes earlier had exhaustively detailed her account of sexual assault during cross-examination by a prosecutor handpicked by Senate Republicans. And as journalist Camille Dodero argued, Blasey likely would have been viewed as less credible if she had cried to the extent that Kavanaugh did.
If Dr. Ford cried this much, she'd been dismissed as unstable.
— Camille Dodero (@camilledodero) September 27, 2018
Kavanaugh’s tears did not strengthen the credibility of his own statement, and appears to have had a mixed response in the White House.
The crying has unnerved some White House aides, source says. “People don’t know why he is crying.”
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) September 27, 2018
President Trump is "riveted" and telling people, "This is why I nominated him," in a positive way, per person close to him. Talking to lots of people inside WH about how he likes how Kavanaugh is fighting back. Admires the defiance.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 27, 2018