Christine Blasey Ford testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Photo / AP
Christine Blasey Ford testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Photo / AP
A man who says he dated Christine Blasey Ford in the 1990s has suggested she lied to the Senate during her hearing.
The purported ex-boyfriend, whose name has been redacted, spoke out in response to statements she made before the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday after accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in the 1980s.
In a sworn written statement, the man claimed to have directly witnessed Ford helping her "long-time best friend" Monica McLean prepare for a polygraph exam.
Christine Blasey Ford testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Photo / AP
"Dr Ford explained in detail what to expect, how polygraphs worked and helped McLean become familiar and less nervous about the exam. Dr Ford was able to help because of her background in psychology," he said in the statement.
During the hearing, Dr Ford said she had never had discussions with anyone, besides her lawyers, on how to take a polygraph, nor had she offered tips to anyone on doing so.
McLean has denied the man's claims.
"I have never had Christine Blasey Ford, or anybody else, prepare me, or provide any other type of assistance whatsoever in connection with any polygraph exam I have taken at any time," she said in a statement relayed by lawyers Michael Bromwich and Debra Katz today.
Speaking to CNN, the retired FBI agent said the "allegations are completely false", adding that she's furious her reputation is now being called into question by a "lie".
"I have never had anyone assist me with the preparation of any polygraph. Ever. Not my entry polygraph, not my five-year reinvestigation polygraphs. Never. I am extremely angry he would make this up," she told the network.
The ex-boyfriend claimed he and Ford dated for around six years between 1992 and 1998, noting that he found her "truthful" and maintained "no animus towards her".
He said she "never brought up anything regarding her experience as a victim of sexual assault, harassment or misconduct". He also said she never mentioned Kavanaugh.
This part did not conflict with Ford's testimony, however, as she said she disclosed the alleged assault for the first time in 2012.
President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. Photo / AP
The ex-boyfriend also disputed Ford's lawyers' claims that she has a fear of flying.
"While visiting Ford in Hawaii, we travelled around the Hawaiian Islands including one time on a propeller plane. Ford never indicated a fear of flying."
He said she never expressed a fear of close quarters, tight spaces or places with only one exit, adding that she lived in a small, 46sq m Hawaii apartment.
This was in relation to Ford's testimony about suffering from claustrophobia. The alleged assault was revealed to her therapist and husband in 2012 after she insisted on having a second exit to her home, which her husband couldn't understand before she opened up about the alleged attack.
Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell noted Ford flies "fairly frequently for hobbies and … work".
She said: "She flies to the mid-Atlantic at least once a year to visit her family. She has also flown to Hawaii, French Polynesia and Costa Rica. She also flew to Washington DC for the hearing."
Donald Trump has been slammed after he directly mocked Dr Ford for the first time since she alleged Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her.
Speaking to a crowd in Southaven, Mississippi yesterday, the US President imitated Dr Ford during her testimony, focusing on how she couldn't remember how she got to the party where she claimed the Supreme Court nominee attacked her.
"I had one beer. Well, do you think it was — nope, it was one beer," Mr Trump said, mimicking Dr Ford's testimony last week to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"How did you get home?" he said, taking on the role of prosecutor.
"I don't remember," he said in Dr Ford's voice, which was deeper.
"How'd you get there? I don't remember. Where is the place? I don't remember. How many years ago was it? I don't know.
"What neighbourhood was it in? I don't know. Where's the house? I don't know. Upstairs, downstairs — where was it? I don't know — but I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember."
His comments were met with applause from the crowd — but not everyone found it so amusing.
Dr Ford's lawyer Michael Bromwich called Mr Trump's attack "vicious, vile and soulless".
"Is it any wonder that she was terrified to come forward and that other sexual assault survivors are as well?" Mr Bromwich tweeted. "She is a remarkable profile in courage. He is a profile in cowardice."
Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake said that mocking "something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right".
“There’s no time and no place for remarks like that. But to discuss something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right…It’s kind of appalling.” @JeffFlake on President Trump’s comments about Dr. Ford at a rally last night pic.twitter.com/6SaTLZK899
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski called the comments "wholly inappropriate and in my view unacceptable".
Actor Alyssa Milano, who last week opened up about her own sexual assault that she experienced as a teenager, led the chorus on Twitter of people who were repulsed by Mr Trump's comments.
Writing to Donald Trump Jr, Milano said: "Your father is an a**hole. This is the most misogynist display of barbaric insensitivity that I've ever seen. This is why I didn't report (my abuse). This right here. Women are watching. And we vote."
What I cannot understand is how the wave of shame and regret didn't wash over you when you got the end of the first line. You just kept typing as if your soul got left in a shopping cart somewhere. And then you hit the tweet button. Damn. https://t.co/uyZJLjFATO
Last week we saw Dr. Blasey Ford display more courage, strength in 1 day than the bullies—who disbelieved her before she said a word—would muster in a lifetime. To survivors, Im sorry for how triggering this is. I am with u. So many r with u. U r seen, heard, believed, & u matter
On Wednesday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended Mr Trump's comments that were seen as mocking Dr Ford's testimony.
At a rare White House briefing, Ms Sanders said: "The President was stating the facts (at the Mississippi rally)."
Ms Sanders also blasted Democrats, accusing them of launching a "full scale assault" on Mr Kavanaugh's integrity and called it "a co-ordinated smear campaign".
