Transcript for The Briefing Room: Allegations could derail Kavanaugh SCOTUS confirmation

About with a briefing room on this Monday out Devin Dwyer driver our senior national correspondent Terry Moran our deputy political director Mary Alice parks on a big. Monday with the Supreme Court nomination in turmoil today a lot of headlines time pack it's all about Cabot on today here in the briefing room the White House. I had teased the possible briefing today they're not having won perhaps because they're dealing with this crisis we know the judges of we're at the White House today as well. Abbott Terry. Walk us through the allegations as you know them today you've spent a lot of time Parse in the reporting on this of course. Our Christine Ford came out over the weekend spoke to the Washington Post. Her lawyer was out there today. But so many rumors so much speculation has prince swirling around this story until we heard now from her. Some very specific claims here. We now know her account and it's something that happened between war monger should stay there three involve high schoolers 35 years ago in Maryland. She was a student at a Tony girls' prep school Kavanagh and the other person alleged to be in this room market which he did Georgetown prep and other Tony's school and at a party. She can't remember the year projects remembers the life out of the house should specific memory of what that place looked like. She says that Kavanagh and and his friend named mark judges to Matt denied it as well. Tractor in a room they were very drunk. Kavanagh got on her attractive force himself on it turned up the music when they were laughing and directly to terrifying memory that she describes. Covered out. A lot of a lot of details. And that it from what it broke up she managed to escape and Lee. She did not speak of it by her own account for deck until couples there when she and her husband were. Marital therapy. And the therapist's notes were provided a portion of them to. Washington a fascinating detail on those contemporaneous relatively contemporaneous thirty years thirty years later he could not in the midst of good crisis has very interest in. And a lie detector tests to Terry. Had picked us aren't admissible in evidence as evidence but for what it's worth and did it depends on your opinion lie detector test. Her team her own team gave her a lie detector test and indicated to choose to. And today. The lawyer for this woman Christine please forward. Deborah Katz was on Good Morning America she offered a little bit more detail about this account and what she's willing to do now with. She is willing to cooperate which is not willing to do is to be part of this bloodletting that happens in Washington. We only need to look at the Unita held hearings to know what that's going to look like. And that's not a fair way to get the true. Social what does that mean she would talk to the FB Abbott did she doesn't want to testify publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee. I'm not saying that we will consider all options what I'm saying it's it's at this have to be fair and thorough and it can't be. Part. A the slugging match if we're really trying to get it the truth hearing should not be used to be weaponized against those who accuse councilman. And that's so this is being set up. OK so she's willing to speak to congress willing to tell our story maybe not any hearing maybe snow. I'll put this sets up Mary Alice an extraordinary situation we have the most contentious Supreme Court nomination. In a generation. Op everybody's in their corners and now to this since those interviews this morning we have a bipartisan consensus coming together that she should be heard don't question seems to be. Powell is should it be some in the FBI does should it be publically publically in front. Out of the entire country or or or privately just with senators under oath not under Alice. But everyone seems to agree at this point that she needs to be heard I was struck by chairman Grassley the Republican. Head of the of that moment on a speaking to Marines aren't the Republican head of the Judiciary Committee. Saying that he thought she deserved to be heard in that speaks a lot to the political moment right now. And the seriousness of these allegations he I think that her lawyer. I'm really hit. On something that will sweetener but a lot of women are on this country. Of the year that they are going to meet rights denied if they speak out of fear that their own reputations. On the line. That someone is gonna has that in bash their motivation if they talk about and it happens in their past. I think that hate now the country is grappling with a pot of stories that sound like that's. And that's why these senators' ability they can't brush off. And we know that critical Republican senate vote Susan Collins has that you for the first pick mountains to their needs to be public hearings. With both judge cap and not and ms. Ford we also know that a number of Republicans are calling. But simply for staff to investigate this for the time being for for phone calls to be placed at both to do phone interviews and essence. And to report back interestingly just in the past few minutes the president has waited he's actually in favor of the process play now as well let's listen him. And they go to the White House. Judge Kavanagh is. One of the finest people that it over now. He's an outstanding intellect an outstanding judge respected by everybody. Never had even a two little blemish on his record. The FBI has I think got through a process six times with him over the years where he went to hire hire positions. He is somebody very special. At the same time we want to go through a process Fluor make sure everything is perfect everything is just right. I wish the Democrats could have done this a lot sooner because they had this information for many months. And vision to wait until literally the last days they should have done it a lot sooner. But what all of that being said we wanna go through the process. OK let's bring in now White House reporter Karen Travers now who has been following this all morning Karen. Can intercede here the president call for the process it seems that that some of his advisors got to him and said he respectful of the woman. Allow this to play out we know that the White House brought over judge Kavanagh this morning. Is he still there what are you hearing. It was incredibly measured statement from president Ron that and we were all expecting. I tweaked at some point on Sunday or tweet this morning the president firing off a strong defense of his Supreme Court nominee but that never came and sat the president. That focus on Brett Cavanaugh is equality as a person hasn't yet announced any intellect is an outstanding judgment of the finest people the president has ever Matt. One thing we did not hear the president say DeVon was that Brett Cavanaugh has denied these allegations we know he has very strong statement earlier this morning. Issue by the White House. But I was notable that the president didn't turn to that it did not he's done in the past. When rob order his former staff secretary was accused. Spousal abuse by two ex wives the president made it very clear rob Porter did nine. And he accepted that. Examples of the president where it's somebody close to morrow Republican candidate rod Roy Moore down Alabama. Windy allegations came out against people like that the president and say they denied it that's the end it so for what ever reason today the president. Taking it very measured tone right Kavanagh as you say it was at the White House today the president did not and if they had net. But instead trying to keep this on Brett have announced record. He's qualifications. And his Intel instead residents at let's let this process play out. And he'll be okay if that means a delay that's very surprising your house. Yeah I'd it seems like Mary Alice that politically here. Democrats are walking a little bit of a tight rope was had breakfast this morning with the senator Chris van Holland of Maryland and chairman of the dead democratic campaign committee for the senate. He said there's some concern among Democrats that perhaps if they are seen as blocking president prompts. Now many here it could animate Republicans it could backfire on them. So you know could go both ways either that there are selling assets and are calling for them to do more. Absolutely the cause is an hour totally unclear plan a lot of different ways. And I sent a tough election her south. She's been facing prelate most serious challenger from the left that she's had in her recent career a challenger who said that. He thought she was playing too nice playing by the rules. All along and now she's caught up in a lot of serious questions about her timeline when she brought authorities she should've brought it forward sooner. If you've been talking to Feinstein staff today of expert at them at such a key question here's why now why this woman. Coming forward at this point. And we learned over the weekend that senator Feinstein have these allegations since mid July. And the White House as she sat on. What it would rain and chairman Grassley a Republican counterpart is blasting her for sitting on them and not eat it sharing them. Privately. In confidence with her colleagues on the senate. In his mind that clearly looks political. Senator feinstein's office says that it was done to protect her confidentiality protect her privacy that doctor Ford with not interested in being. A public face of public. Accuser in this way. But a lot of questions you're right about about the timeline here and whether or not. And finance and some point shouldn't Rockies accusations out during the public hearings last week but even in defiance of work dark wood wanted. Add those pap question but they're able that they he has a life I'm a plane the potential for a light equipment on the bench at these are serious allegations and the nation brought. He even against the wishes of the alleged victim that well one Republican I talked to said even if one of the questions is not whether perhaps dine on such and brought them forward publicly but. Why didn't she raised him privately they they had an account with cap and Russia at a private won a moment just cabinet she also the committee. And their Terry they had their private meeting with the FBI there is represented presumably she could've. Brought up this claim without using in the woman's name so what's more information that she didn't do that said there are there are a lot of questions your point about why. Beckett the prisoner that doctor Ford did seem to sort of raise our head in some way even with out her name even incompetence. As soon as haven't I was on the shortlist she says that she called her local or present them wrote a letter to her local rap. Roaches and media outlets and Roberts Diane feinstein's California resident Feinstein is her senator. So this idea and it where the news might keep breaking right now in what seems like the eleventh hour is different and when these accusations axles in the first place. So Terry look at your crystal ball you were you've covered the unity oh here in which is also very similar. And not a perfect. Parallel here but. A lot of people ask is today. What's gonna happen where is going now on the use of Republicans digging in seeing their full steam ahead even though they want to hear from. The woman Democrats of course trying to delay as long as possible. What do you see happening that's couple weeks well let's hope it goes better on the part of the senate in the Anita Hill hearings it it was a catastrophe. Took 2 o'clock in the morning he urges that was there ever. Watching what I thought was my government can't just disintegrating in front of me and threw in two on discipline and Croat rule against both of the people involved soap opera let's hope they do it better however they choose to do and and a lot of confidence that. Nor do have a lot of confidence that doctors would wish that it not be a slugging match a political slugfest this is a political process it is a lifetime appointment. On the most powerful court in the land. And they're gonna fight each other about so what I think the Republicans are gonna try to do is avoid a public spectacle. Try to keep her out of the spotlight by putting her under oath on the phone. And indeed come to Washington or judgment that you just have somebody given the oath and then Kavanagh as well. All of the senators on that committee will be invited into that conference call I don't think that's gonna fly for Democrats but they're gonna try and do that. Very interest in doorstep play out and of course perhaps that it's something that she would prefer not to be in that in Nazi perhaps she preferred to close doors. Meanwhile is all this is going on of course the White House has not had a brief scene and over week. They had the fewest number of white house press briefings in any summer in the last three presidencies this past summer sedition no opportunity to ask them questions about this. Or their response to hurricane. Florence which is hitting DC this afternoon but Mary Alice you've taken a look at some of the that the politics around this and this administration's response the death pull up to 23. How is this plane politically is this. President sort of strategic plate to withdraw himself and to punt to FEMA on this has it worked. I think probably think that president I was able to present at. Confidence. Picture at and warrants talked about all the work. That his administration is doing put administration at the Fina had put on TV a lot beaten the green light to be a public face of bets with. Probably you know we are only fifty gave out today from the November election and so all of the political calculations are just. Even I. On higher alert and they've been normally are. And so whether it's how to play the next few steps of this crisis that wreck happened how to play the next steps with protecting lives and property. In the wake of Florence is still huge political calculation considering the senate and made the house and and maybe in the senate are for. Apps they've ramifications to follow the weeks ahead Terry Moran Merrill's parks think he's so much and speaking of the mid terms primary season over. Be sure to check out the latest 538 forecast for the house and the senate at 538 that commented ABC news that constant great. I analysis there as well will be right back here tomorrow the briefing room for Terry Mary Alice on Devin Dwyer Washington Post watch.

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