What you can expect during the testimonies

WASHINGTON – Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the university professor who accused him of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school, are to testify Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee about her allegations.

When is the hearing?

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226.

Who will testify?

Despite repeated requests from Ford’s legal team for the ability to call other witnesses, the Judiciary Committee under Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, insisted that only Kavanaugh and Ford will testify.

What are they likely to say?

In Kavanaugh’s opening statement, which was released Wednesday, he decried a “frenzy to come up with something – anything, no matter how far-fetched or odious – that will block a vote on my nomination.” He called the allegations against him “last-minute smears” and vowed he would “not be intimated into withdrawing.”

Ford’s statement was not made public, but she has alleged that Kavanaugh locked her in a room, held her down and tried to remove her clothes at a party when they were both in high school.

Who will question them?

Rachel Mitchell, an Arizona sex crimes prosecutor, was chosen to lead questioning for Republicans during the hearing. The use of a sex crime prosecutor to question Ford could prevent the potentially bad optics of 11 Republican men questioning a woman who alleged sexual assault. The Democrats on the committee are likely to question Kavanaugh and Ford directly.

What about the other accusers?

Two other women came forward to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. Deborah Ramirez alleged that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her and put his genitals in her face at a dorm room party when they were classmates at Yale University. Wednesday, Julie Swetnick, a client of attorney Michael Avenatti, alleged in a signed statement that she witnessed Kavanaugh and his high school classmate Mark Judge try to get girls “inebriated and disoriented so they could then be ‘gang raped.’ ” Neither Ramirez nor Swetnick was invited to testify Thursday.

Why was there not an FBI investigation first?

Ford’s attorneys and Senate Democrats continued to call for an FBI investigation before the committee hearing, but those requests were rebuffed by committee officials who explained that only the executive branch of government has the authority to order such an investigation.

President Donald Trump said he would not order the FBI to look into the allegations.

When will the Senate vote on Kavanaugh?

Tuesday, Grassley scheduled a Judiciary Committee vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination for Friday. The Iowa Republican left open the possibility that the vote could be delayed, depending on what transpires during Thursday’s hearing.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. – who vowed last week to “plow right through” the confirmation process despite the allegations – could move ahead with a vote on the Senate floor without a recommendation from the committee.