Kavanaugh’s accuser comes forward saying she fears retaliation

THE woman who accused Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault yesterday came forward to identify herself, saying she “thought he might inadvertently kill me”.

Christine Blasey Ford, now a highranking research psychologist, initially wrote a letter to a senior Democrat detailing the circumstances of an alleged attack carried out by Brett Kavanaugh, the US president’s choice for Supreme Court judge, who is just days from being confirmed in the post.

She claims that Mr Kavanaugh pinned her down on a bed at a high school party when she was 15 and he was 17. Ms Ford claims that he was “stumbling drunk” and tried to remove her clothes. When she tried to scream, she alleges that he put his hand over her mouth as his friend watched.

She claims she escaped from under him when his friend jumped on top of the bed and all three fell to the floor.

She says she ran from the room, briefly locked herself in a bathroom and then fled the house in Maryland where the party was taking place. Ms Ford, now 51, works at Palo Alto University in California. Yesterday, she gave her on-the-record account for the first time to The Washington Post.

“I think it derailed me substantially for four or five years,” Ms Ford said of the alleged incident which she had described as a “rape attempt” during a therapy session in 2012. “He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing.” She said she had grappled with her sense of duty for weeks over whether to come forward and identify herself, aware she may face a backlash and was unlikely to derail his nomination.

“Why suffer through the annihilation if it’s not going to matter, she said. “Now I feel like my civic responsibility is outweighing my anguish and terror about retaliation.”

Earlier this week Mr Kavanaugh strenuously denied her accusations.

“I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation,” he said in a statement. “I did not do this back in high school or at any time.”

The Daily Telegraph contacted the White House for comment on the story but had no response at the time of going to press.