HOW THIS ‘SQUEAKY CLEAN’ DAD DIVIDED A NATION

UNTIL Christine Blasey Ford went public with her allegations on September 16, Mr Kavanaugh was seen as a largely squeaky clean Catholic family man whose worst offence was a weakness for running up heavy debts on his credit cards.

Democrats and Republicans quickly took sides, with Mr Trump’s opponents rushing to support the judge’s accusers – arguing that Mr Kavanaugh is not morally fit for office – and Republicans keen to discredit them.

While Democrats have called for an FBI investigation, sceptics say it is a ploy to delay confirming Mr Kavanaugh’s nomination until after the midterm elections in November which might see the Democrats eating into Republican control of the Senate, which would allow them to block Mr Kavanaugh’s appointment.

Mr Kavanaugh would provide a solid 5-4 conservative majority in the Supreme Court, which could be vital on issues such as abortion and religious rights.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on the nomination today, although there is growing speculation it may be delayed.

Mr Kavanaugh’s two other accusers may be persuaded to give evidence.

Deborah Ramirez, 53, says he thrust his genitals in her face during a drunken party at university. Julie Swetnick, 55, claims she watched him queue with other teenage boys at high school parties to rape girls whose drinks he had spiked. Mr Kavanaugh rejects the women’s claims.

A final vote by the full Senate, where the Republican party has only a 51-49 majority, is scheduled to follow on Tuesday after the new Supreme Court term begins on Monday.

Before yesterday’s hearing, 45 Republicans said they would vote for Mr Kavanaugh and six were undecided. Not all Democrats are guaranteed to vote against him because ten are running for re-election in mainly Republican states.

Mr Kavanaugh married Ashley Estes, a former personal secretary to George W Bush, in 2004 and they have daughters Elizabeth and Margaret.