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.…

The Latest: Kavanaugh Denies New Sexual Misconduct Charges

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh (all times local): 12:42 p.m. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is denying new allegations of sexual misconduct, saying they’re from the “Twilight Zone.” In a statement Wednesday, Kavanaugh said: “This is ridiculous and from the Twilight Zone. I don’t know who this is and…

Standoff has Kavanaugh Accuser’s Senate Appearance in Limbo

WASHINGTON (AP) — The high-stakes confrontation over whether Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee grinded into Saturday as Republican Chairman Chuck Grassley gave Christine Blasey Ford more time to decide whether to tell her story to his panel and a riveted nation. Grassley had set a Friday night deadline for the…

Evangelicals Push Senate Republicans to Confirm Kavanaugh

WASHINGTON (AP) — Evangelical activists are pressing Republican leaders to act more forcefully to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh’s nomination is a leading issue for faith leaders and activists who are gathering at the annual Values Voter summit in Washington. Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, the organizer of the conference, says…

Grassley Says FBI Doesn’t Need to Investigate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the woman who accuses him of sexually assaulting her decades ago (all times local): 12:10 p.m. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley says the FBI does not need to look into the sexual-assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh because Republicans…

Ford: FBI Should Investigate Kavanaugh Claim Before Hearing

By ALAN FRAM and LISA MASCARO ,  WASHINGTON (AP) — Christine Blasey Ford wants the FBI to investigate her allegation that she was sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh before she testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing next week, her lawyers said in a letter to the panel. The lawyers wrote that Ford,…