White House defends Trump after he mocks Kavanaugh sex assault accuser
The president mocked a woman who claims she was assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Wednesday 3 October 2018 20:51, UK
The White House has defended President Donald Trump for mocking a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said "the president was stating the facts" at a Mississippi rally where he imitated Professor Christine Blasey Ford.
She went on to accuse the Democrats of launching a "full scale assault on" Mr Kavanaugh's integrity, calling it "a co-ordinated smear campaign".
White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway also defended the president.
She told reporters Dr Ford has "been treated like a Faberge egg by all of us, beginning with me and the president".
She said Mr Trump was "pointing out factual inconsistencies".
Last week, Mr Trump described Dr Ford's testimony at the Senate hearing as "very credible".
However, on Tuesday night the president mocked her evidence about the alleged assault in Maryland in 1982 when she was 15 and Mr Kavanaugh was 17.
Dr Ford testified that she could not remember the precise date or location of the alleged assault or how she got home afterward.
She testified that a drunken Mr Kavanaugh pinned her down, tried to remove her clothing and covered her mouth when she screamed.
"What neighbourhood was it in? I don't know. Where's the house? I don't know. Upstairs, downstairs, where was it? I don't know. But I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember," Mr Trump mocked.
He went on to say: "A man's life is in tatters."
Mr Trump was accused during the 2016 presidential race of sexual misconduct with numerous women.
Republican senator Jeff Flake is among those who have taken issue with comments Mr Trump made.
Mr Flake said on US television: "There's no time and no place for remarks like that, that discuss something this sensitive at a political rally.
"It's just not right. I wish he hadn't... done it. I just say it's kind of appalling," Mr Flake said.
The FBI is conducting a revived background check into Mrs Ford's accusation and could report back as early as Wednesday.
Mr Kavanaugh denies any wrongdoing.