Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump deviated from his previously measured comments about the woman who has accused his Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault when he questioned Thursday why the woman didn't call the police 36 years ago, when she says the incident happened.

"Why didn't somebody call the FBI 36 years ago? I mean you could also say when did this all happen, what's going on? To take a man like this and besmirch -- now with that being said, let her have her say and let's see how it all works out," Trump said during an interview on Fox News just before his rally in Las Vegas.

"I think it's a very sad situation. He's an outstanding person," Trump added.

Professor Christine Blasey Ford has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a party outside Washington when they were in high school. He denies it happened.

Trump had previously stayed above the political fight and heated rhetoric that have surfaced after Ford came forward in a Sunday story in The Washington Post. CNN reported earlier Thursday that Trump has bragged about the positive coverage he's received for his handling of Kavanaugh's accuser, according to multiple sources. That response has contributed to him continuing to say Ford should come forward with her story.

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