Kavanaugh was to testify in front of the panel next on Thursday afternoon, having stridently rejected the allegations of sexual abuse by Blasey Ford and two other women in prepared remarks.

After delivering an emotional opening statement, Blasey Ford was questioned by a professional sex crimes prosecutor about her memory and motivation in coming forth with the accusation, which has jeopardized Kavanaugh’s approval.

She dismissed suggestions she had a political motivation and said she was “100 percent” certain her attacker in the summer of 1982 was Kavanaugh.

Rachel Mitchell, the prosecutor recruited by Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to question Kavanaugh’s accuser in the nationally televised hearing, explored questions about the alleged assault, and how Blasey Ford came forward with her accusation.

But Mitchell held back from directly challenging the allegation, or from any serious attempt to undermine Blasey Ford’s credibility.

Blasey Ford admitted not being able to remember some details about the incident, which she says involved Kavanaugh and another boy shutting her in a room and attmpting to tear off her clothing, but said she had several clear memories of it.

“Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter, the uproarious laughter between the two, and they are having fun at my expense.”

“I was underneath one of them while the two laughed.” DM