Many Republicans Thursday reacted with silence after the first round of questioning of Christine Blasey Ford, who began testifying that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her at a party when the two were in high school.
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Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, and many other Republicans declined to comment on Ford’s emotional testimony, which television analysts and political pundits are labeling a disaster for the nominee and the GOP.
“I’m listening,” Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said, declining to comment further.
One lawmaker, Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., called Ford’s testimony so far “very compelling and emotional for her obviously … riveting.”
Other GOP senators simply declined to comment as they hurried past reporters and entered the Senate chamber for an afternoon vote. Most said they were holding off until the hearing concludes. After Ford finishes testifying, Kavanaugh will take his turn before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
[Also read: Orrin Hatch claims Christine Blasey Ford is an ‘attractive’ witness, office says he was referring to her personality]
Panel Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, declined to comment about Ford’s testimony when swarmed by reporters.
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said the panel will debate the merits of the hearing when they vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination as early as tomorrow. Corker is not a member of the panel.
“I don’t want to make any comment until I hear all of the testimony,” Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., generally a supporter of Kavanaugh, said. “I want to watch this today. I have generally warm feelings for Judge Kavanaugh, but this is an important day for me, as well as many people in our caucus.”
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a key swing vote, told reporters, “I want to hear the whole hearing, both her and Kavanaugh.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a former member of the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, said Ford “seems sincere” but has not provide any new evidence or corroboration for her story, which he noted, Kavanaugh adamantly denies.
Graham also noted Ford cannot recall how she got to the party where the alleged attack occurred, or how she got home.
All will factor in to his vote on whether to confirm Kavanaugh, Graham said.
“He says he didn’t do it; I’m looking for corroboration,” Graham said. “It’s not an emotional decision; it’s a factual decision.”
Al Weaver and Laura Barrón-López contributed to this report.
