The Supreme Court nominee emphatically, and at times angrily, denied allegations of sexual assault brought by Christine Blasey Ford. Kavanaugh accused Democrats of resorting to using the allegation to stop his nomination after failing to "take me out on merits."



"This confirmation process has become a national disgrace," Kavanaugh said. "The Constitution gives the Senate an important role in the confirmation process. But you have replaced advise and consent with search and destroy."



Kavanaugh said he does not question whether Ford was assaulted, but denied he was responsible. "I've never sexually assaulted anyone. Not in high school, not in college, not ever," he said.



Kavanaugh said he bears no ill will toward Ford and choked up as he described his daughters praying for her.



As he spoke before the Senate panel, Kavanaugh held back tears, his eyes visibly watering and his nose sniffling. He frequently stopped to sip from a cup of water as he recounted his life as a boy, his high school drinking and his record as a judge.



The drinking culture surrounding the elite preparatory school Kavanaugh attended has become a flashpoint following Ford's allegations. Kavanaugh addressed his alcohol use during his opening remarks and his assessment different from the descriptions others provided to reporters.



"I drank beer with my friends, almost everyone did," Kavanaugh said. Sometimes I had too many beers ... but I did not drink beer to the point of blacking out and I never sexually assaulted anyone."



Kavanaugh also offered an explanation for jokes in his high school yearbook about a girl named Renate. He said the reference to the "Renate Alumnius" was meant to show affection. "I'm so sorry to her for that yearbook reference," Kavanaugh said.



Kavanaugh ended his opening remarks with another declaration: "I swear today, under oath, before the Senate and the nation, before my family and god, I am innocent of this charge."