Brett Kavanaugh has strongly denied accusations of sexual assault, after Christine Blasey Ford gave testimony that she was certain the Supreme Court nominee was her attacker 36 years ago.

Key points: Brett Kavanaugh's accuser describes fearing she would be killed during alleged assault

Brett Kavanaugh's accuser describes fearing she would be killed during alleged assault Dr Ford said she is absolutely certain her attacker was Brett Kavanaugh

Dr Ford said she is absolutely certain her attacker was Brett Kavanaugh Mr Kavanaugh said he is a victim of 'grotesque and obvious character assassination'

During hours of questioning in a dramatic US Senate hearing, Dr Ford detailed allegations that she thought Mr Kavanaugh was going to rape and perhaps accidentally kill her.

Dr Ford, whose voice sometimes cracked with emotion, testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing that could determine whether Mr Kavanaugh will be confirmed to the lifetime job after a pitched political battle between US President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans and Democrats who oppose the nominee.

After watching both testimonies, Mr Trump gave Mr Kavanaugh his vote of confidence in a tweet, calling for the Senate to move ahead and make a decision on Mr Kavanaugh's nomination.

Dr Ford recalled thinking Mr Kavanaugh would accidentally kill her during the attack. ( AP: Andrew Harnik )

"With what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?" Democratic Senator Richard Durbin asked Dr Ford.

"One hundred per cent," she replied, remaining firm and unruffled through hours of questioning.

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Dr Ford said "absolutely not" when Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein asked her if it could be a case of mistaken identity.

Dr Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California, said a drunken Mr Kavanaugh attacked her and tried to remove her clothing at a gathering of teenagers in Maryland when he was 17 years old and she was 15.

"Brett groped me and tried to take off my clothes. He had a hard time because he was very inebriated and because I was wearing a one-piece bathing suit under my clothing," she told the hearing.

"I believed he was going to rape me. I tried to yell for help," Dr Ford said, adding that Mr Kavanaugh and a friend of his, Mark Judge, were "drunkenly laughing during the attack".

She said Mr Kavanaugh put his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming.

"This was what terrified me the most, and has had the most lasting impact on my life. It was hard for me to breathe, and I thought that Brett was accidentally going to kill me."

Dr Ford said in a response to Democratic senator Patrick Leahy that her strongest memory of the incident was the "uproarious laughter between the two (Kavanaugh and Judge) and their having fun at my expense".

She said the laughter has haunted her ever since.

'I am innocent of this charge': Kavanaugh

Sorry, this video has expired Brett Kavanaugh denied ever assaulting Christine Blasey Ford

Mr Kavanaugh testified after Dr Ford finished her appearance, and they were never in the hearing room together.

"I swear today, under oath, before the Senate and the nation, before my family and God, I am innocent of this charge," Mr Kavanaugh told the Judiciary Committee.

Calling himself a victim of "grotesque and obvious character assassination," Mr Kavanaugh, speaking passionately, said he "unequivocally and categorically" denied Dr Ford's allegation.

Brett Kavanaugh's factbox Age: 53 (born February 12, 1965 in Washington, DC)

53 (born February 12, 1965 in Washington, DC) Education: BA, Yale University 1987; JD, Yale Law School 1990

BA, Yale University 1987; JD, Yale Law School 1990 Since 2006: Judge in US Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit

Judge in US Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit 2003-06: Staff secretary to president George W Bush

Staff secretary to president George W Bush 2001-03: White House counsel's office

White House counsel's office 1997-98, 1999-2001: Partner at Kirkland and Ellis law firm

Partner at Kirkland and Ellis law firm 1994-97: Associate counsel at Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr

Associate counsel at Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr 1993-94: Law clerk, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy

Law clerk, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy 1992-93: Office of Solicitor General

Mr Kavanaugh at times choked back tears, especially when he mentioned that his daughter suggested they pray for Dr Ford, when he spoke of his father and when he mentioned his women friends who have rallied to support him.

Mr Kavanaugh said he wanted to testify as soon as Dr Ford's allegation first emerged and was not surprised that other allegations followed.

"In those 10 long days, as was predictable and as I predicted, my family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed by vicious and false additional accusations."

The delay in scheduling a hearing "has been horrible to me and my family, to the Supreme Court and to the country," Mr Kavanaugh said.

"I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process," he added.

"You may defeat me in the final vote, but you'll never get me to quit, never."

Looking sombre, Mr Kavanaugh was accompanied by his wife as he entered the hearing room.

Mr Kavanaugh during his testimony. ( AP: Andrew Harnik )

He sharply attacked Democratic senators, an unusual move by a sitting judge nominated to the Supreme Court, saying he was the victim of "a calculated and orchestrated political hit" after it earlier appeared he was heading toward confirmation.

He accused the Democrats of "lying in wait," with the Dr Ford allegations, only revealing them publicly after his original confirmation hearing was completed.

But he was careful not to denounce Dr Ford, noting that he wished her "no ill will".

He said that he was not questioning that Dr Ford may have been sexually assaulted "by some person, in some place, at some time," but that he had never assaulted her or anyone.

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Mr Trump defended his nominee on Twitter on Thursday shortly after the extraordinary hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee concluded.

Mr Trump called the judge's testimony "powerful, honest, and riveting," declaring "The Senate must vote!"

The President said the Democrats' "search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist."

His comments echoed those made by Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who scolded Democratic senators during his five minute slot to question Mr Kavanaugh, seeking to rally Republicans not to abandon the nominee.

Sorry, this video has expired Senator Lindsey Graham calls process an 'unethical sham'

"This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics," Mr Graham said, adding that voting against Mr Kavanaugh would legitimise the attacks on the nominee.

"This is not a job interview, this is hell," Mr Graham said.

"If you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wouldn't have done what you've done to this guy. You're looking for a fair process? You came to the wrong town at the wrong time, my friend."

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Earlier, Mr Graham called Dr Ford "a nice lady who has come forward to tell a hard story," but said her account was "uncorroborated".

He complained that she couldn't remember the house, the city or the month in which she says the attack occurred.

Key Senate Republicans are now huddling to discuss the next steps on Mr Kavanaugh's nomination.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Republican, said the Republicans will meet and "see where we are," but that the plan is still to have the vote.



'I am no pawn'

The hearing, which has riveted Americans and intensified the political polarisation in the United States, occurred against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault.

Mr Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct by two other women as well. He also denied those allegations during his testimony.

While some Republicans and Mr Trump have called the allegations by Dr Ford and two other women against Mr Kavanaugh part of a smear campaign, Dr Ford told the committee, "I am an independent person and I am no pawn".

Protesters gather inside the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington as hearings take place. ( AP: Patrick Semansky )

Dr Ford told the senators at the outset of the hearing that she was "terrified" to testify but felt it was her civic duty come forward.

Democratic senators, who praised the credibility of her testimony and called her brave for coming forward, sought to score political points during their five minutes apiece of questioning Dr Ford. The panel's Republican senators, all men, did not question her, assigning that task to Rachel Mitchell, a sex crimes prosecutor.

While Ms Mitchell sought to probe Dr Ford's account including any gaps in her story, her questioning seemed disjointed because she took turns with the Democratic senators to ask questions in five minute segments, disrupting her flow.

"The first thing that struck me from your statement this morning was that you are terrified. And I just wanted to let you know, I'm very sorry. That's not right," Ms Mitchell said.

The committee could vote on Mr Kavanaugh's confirmation on Friday, with a final Senate vote expected to follow on Saturday.

There have been growing calls for Mr Kavanaugh to withdraw in light of the allegations.

A third woman, Julie Swetnick, has come forward alleging sexual misconduct by Brett Kavanaugh. ( AP: Michael Avenatti )

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