The Latest: Dramatic Hearing over Ford Allegations Begins

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh (all times local): 10:05 a.m. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has gaveled into session Thursday’s dramatic hearing with Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Ford, in prepared remarks submitted to the committee, alleges that Kavanaugh groped her and tried…

Trump Says His Past Accusers Influence Thinking on Kavanaugh

By CATHERINE LUCEY and JILL COLVIN ,  Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — This is personal for President Donald Trump. For 10 days, Trump has watched as allegations of sexual misconduct have swirled around Brett Kavanaugh, his nominee for the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, Trump spoke aloud what he’s been mulling in private, acknowledging publicly for the…

High Drama As Kavanaugh-Ford Hearings Happen

By LISA MASCARO, ALAN FRAM and LAURIE KELLMAN ,  Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — With high drama in the making, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh emphatically fended off new accusations of sexual misconduct ahead of a charged public Senate hearing that could determine whether Republicans can salvage his nomination and enshrine a high court conservative majority.…

Trump: I’d ‘Certainly Prefer Not’ to Fire Rosenstein

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would “certainly prefer not” to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and that he may delay a highly anticipated meeting with the Justice Department’s No. 2 official. Trump said Rosenstein denied making remarks first attributed to him in a New York Times report, including that…