Democrats, so far, don’t seem interested in investigating Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations

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Instead, the Democratic members on the committee, which heard testimony Thursday from both Ford and Kavanaugh, appeared interested more in corroborating the alleged victim’s story than exploring whether it’s true. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., for example, used her time to dispute a Kavanaugh defense suggesting this entire ordeal is a case of mistaken identity.

The California senator also asked:

• Why have you held [the story] to yourself all these years? As you look back, can you indicate what the reasons are?
• Can you tell us what impact the events had on you?
• Is there any other way this has affected your life?
• What were the — when — when we spoke and it became very clear how deeply you felt about this and the need that you wanted to remain confidential, can you talk a little bit about that?
• How did you decide to come forward?

Then there was Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who asked Ford how she came to know Kavanaugh and his childhood friend, Mark Judge. He also asked:

• Is it possible that you had mixed [Brett Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge] up with somebody else?
• You would not mix up somebody else with Brett Kavanaugh, is that correct … or Mark Judge?
• What is the strongest memory you have, the strongest memory of the incident, something that you cannot forget?
• And you were the object of the laughter [from Kavanaugh and Judge]?
• You do remember what happened, do you not?

Next up was Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who asked for Ford to describe the degree to which she is certain Kavanaugh assaulted her. He also asked:

• Would you please describe that encounter at the Safeway with Mark Judge and what led you to believe he was uncomfortable?
• How long did this occur after the incident?

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., went next. He asked:

• You specifically asked for an FBI investigation, did you not?
• And are you aware that when the FBI begins investigating, they might find corroborative evidence and they might find exculpatory evidence?
• And you were still — not just willing, but insistent that the FBI should investigate your recollection and your claim?

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., took her turn, and she asked many worthwhile questions. She asked:

• Can you tell us why you decided to take that [polygraph] test?
• You’ve talked about your recollections, and seeing Mark Judge at that Safeway. If there had been an appropriate reopening of this background check and FBI interviews, would that help you find the time period, if you knew when he worked at that Safeway?
• You told your counselor about this back in 2012, is that right?
• I understand that your husband was also present when you spoke about this incident in front of a counselor and he recalls you using Judge Kavanaugh’s name. Is that right?
• If someone had actually done an investigation your husband would have been able to say that you named his name at that time?
• I know you’ve been concerned … with your privacy throughout the process, and you first requested that your account be kept confidential. Can you briefly tell us why?
• Can you tell us what you don’t forget about that night?

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., was up next. Here is what he asked:

• Do I understand correctly that when you — when you first reached out to Congresswoman Eshoo and to the Washington Post tip line, that was when he was on the short list, but before he was nominated to the Supreme Court. Is that correct?
• If you would, I’d appreciate your reaction to the excuse that boys will be boys.
• [E]xperts have written about how it’s common for sexual assault survivors to remember some facts about the experience very sharply and very clearly, but not others, and that has to do with the survival mode that we go into in experiencing trauma. Is that your experience, and is that something you can help the layperson understand?

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., took his turn. He asked:

• You’re a teacher, correct? [He went on to thank her for giving America a lesson about sexual assault]
• Would you like Mark Judge to be interviewed in connection with the background investigation and the serious credible allegations that you’ve made?

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, took a crack at it. She asked:

• Dr. Ford, is there a political motivation for your coming forward with your account of the assault by Brett Kavanaugh?

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., took a swing at it next. He asked:

• [Y]our fear was that this individual who assaulted you would ascend to that seat. That’s correct, right?
• And it is correct that you have given a lot of resources, taken a lot of threats to come forward, correct?
• How has it affected your children?
• Can you answer for me how do you feel that all the things that could have been done thoroughly to help this deliberative body, have not been honored in this so-called investigation?

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., was the last Democratic lawmaker given time to speak to Ford. She didn’t ask a question.

Earlier at the hearing, before the questions started, Ford testified that she drank one beer at that party nearly 35 years ago.

“Brett and Mark were visibly drunk. Early in the evening, I went up a very narrow set of stairs leading from the living room to a second floor to use the restroom. When I got to the top of the stairs, I was pushed from behind into a bedroom across from the bathroom. I couldn’t see who pushed me. Brett and Mark came into the bedroom and locked the door behind them,” she said.

She added, “There was music playing in the bedroom. It was turned up louder by either Brett or Mark once we went into the room. I was pushed on the bed, and Brett got on top of me, and he began running his hands over my body and grinding into me. I yelled, hoping that someone downstairs might hear me, and I tried to get away from him, but his weight was heavy. Brett groped me and tried to take off my clothes.”

In contrast to how Democrats have approached the questioning of Ford, Republicans yielded their time to Rachel Mitchell, the sex crimes bureau chief for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, Ariz.

Mitchell’s interactions with Ford were congenial and respectful. Mitchell also approached her questions professionally, asking pointed inquiries to deduce the truth of Ford’s claims.