Washington (CNN) Hawaii Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono on Sunday previewed what she plans to ask Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh during a hearing later this week to address a sexual assault allegation levied against him.

Hirono, one of Kavanaugh's biggest critics on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told CNN "State of the Union" anchor Jake Tapper that she plans to ask Kavanaugh about his experiences in high school, the time of the alleged incident.

"I would be wanting to hear what kind of environment it was in high school," she said. "Apparently, there was a lot of drinking and partying going on."

Kavanaugh faces allegations of sexual assault after California professor Christine Blasey Ford came forward with a personal account that she alleges took place more than 30 years ago while they were both at a party in high school.

Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied the accusations, and he and Ford are expected to speak before the committee this week.

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