who is the attorney sitting next to dr. ford at hearing

What's the next step in Kavanaugh nomination battle?

WASHINGTON — Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans said Tuesday that they had hired an outside attorney to question Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused him of sexually assaulting her, at the committee's hearing on Thursday.

How are Kavanaugh and Ford preparing for their Senate hearing?

"The goal is to de-politicize the process and get to the truth, instead of grandstanding and giving senators an opportunity to launch their presidential campaigns," Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the committee's chairman, said in a statement. "I’m very appreciative that Rachel Mitchell has stepped forward to serve in this important and serious role."

Trump reportedly sounds 'fatalistic' on Kavanaugh in private

Meanwhile, both President Donald Trump and leading Hill Republicans continued to take a sharper tone Tuesday on the accusations against Kavanaugh.

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford

Christine Blasey Ford, testifies before the US Senate Judiciary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill September 27, 2018 in Washington, DC.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh

Brett Kavanaugh was nominated by President Donald Trump to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy’s seat on the Supreme court in July. Kavanaugh served on the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Circuit for 12 years. He is a former legal aide to President George W. Bush and clerked in the Supreme Court under Justice Kennedy.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein was elected to represent California in the Senate in 1992. A democrat, she is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ford summarized her accusations against Kavanaugh in a letter Feinstein’s office received on July 30. Feinstein told Ford she would not share the letter with anyone without Ford’s consent.

Sen. Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley has served as one of Iowa’s senators since 1981. A Republican, he is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Rachel Mitchell

Rachel Mitchell, a prosecutor from Arizona, is seen prior to Christine Blasey Ford testifies during his US Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, September 27, 2018.

Mark Judge

Mark Judge was Kavanaugh’s classmate at the all-male Catholic private school, Georgetown Preparatory. Ford alleged Judge was in the bedroom with Kavanaugh when she was assaulted at a gathering in the 1980s. In her opening statement on Thursday, Ford said, “Both Brett and Mark were drunkenly laughing during the attack.

Leland Ingham Keyser

Leland Ingham Keyser was at the high school gathering in the 1980s where Ford was allegedly sexually assaulted, Ford told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.