Washington (CNN) South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham forcefully defended Brett Kavanaugh against an allegation of sexual assault during a tense Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday and accused Democrats of wanting to "destroy" the life of President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee.

Immediately following an aggressive line of questioning by Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, Graham said angrily, "What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold this seat open, and hope you win in 2020."

The Republican from South Carolina then turned his attention back to Kavanaugh and asked: "Are you a gang rapist?" Kavanaugh replied: "No."

The Republican senator also asked Kavanaugh, "Would you say you've been through hell?" Kavanaugh responded, "I've been through hell and then some."

Graham expressed sympathy for the Supreme Court nominee and his family, saying, "I cannot imagine what you and your family have gone through." He added, "I hope the American people can see through this sham."

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