Christine Blasey Ford’s ex-boyfriend has sent a letter to the Judiciary Committee contradicting her claims last week that she never coached anyone about how to take a polygraph test, Fox News reported Tuesday. The ex-boyfriend, whose name was redacted from the letter Fox posted, said he dated Ms. Blasey Ford for roughly six years and she never mentioned a sexual assault in her past, nor did she seem afraid of flying or of enclosed spaces. Ms. Blasey Ford last week testified that she was assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh when they were in high school — and said it left her afraid of tight spaces without escape routes. She also testified that she had been reluctant to come to Washington to testify because she was afraid of flying. The ex-boyfriend also said he recalled Ms. Blasey Ford, a psychologist by training, coaching a friend, Monica McLean, on how to take a polygraph test in preparation for a job interview. “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,” the man said in the letter. During the hearing last week Ms. Blasey Ford told Rachel Mitchell, the sex-crimes prosecutor the GOP hired to question her, that she she “never” coached anyone or gave tips about how to take a polygraph. MITCHELL: Have you ever taken any other polygraphs in your life? FORD: Never…. MITCHELL: Have you ever had discussions with anyone, besides your attorneys, on how to take a polygraph? FORD: Never. MITCHELL: And I don’t just mean countermeasures, but I mean just any sort of tips, or anything like that. FORD: No. I was scared of the test itself, but was comfortable that I could tell the information, and the test would reveal whatever it was going to reveal. I didn’t expect it to be as long as it was going to be, so it was a little bit stressful. MITCHELL: Have you ever given tips or advice to somebody who was looking to take a polygraph test? FORD: Never. Ms. McLean put out a statement, following Fox News’ report, denying she ever had help from Ms. Blasey Ford. “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 anytime,” she said. According to the New York Post, Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley contacted Ms. Blasey Ford’s lawyers once he receive the letter, saying it “raises specific concerns about the reliability of [Ford’s] polygraph-examination results.” The committee retweeted the Fox News story Tuesday. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, criticized Republicans for releasing the letter, which also contained details of the relationship between Ms. Blasey Ford and the unnamed man. “Now, in the midst of an FBI investigation, Republicans are interviewing former boyfriends of both Dr. Ford and Deborah Ramirez in a transparent attempt to discredit them,” she said in a statement. “Rape shield laws and the federal rules of evidence are designed precisely to stop this sort of attack.” No reports of the Senate Judiciary Committee interacting with a former boyfriend of Ms. Ramirez, who was the second woman to accuse Judge Kavanaugh, have been made public. Though a former friend of Julie Swetnick, the third accuser, sent a letter to the committee on Tuesday that detailed their relationship and his experience with her. “The terrible treatment of Dr. Ford and Ms. Ramirez tells every woman in this country to keep sexual assault to themselves,” Ms. Feinstein said. “We must send a different message, a message of support.” • Gabriella Muñoz contributed to this article. Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.<doc-sep>In a written declaration released Tuesday and obtained by Fox News, an ex-boyfriend of Christine Blasey Ford, the California professor accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, directly contradicts her testimony under oath last week that she had never helped anyone prepare for a polygraph examination. The former boyfriend, whose name was redacted in the declaration, also said Ford neither mentioned Kavanaugh nor mentioned she was a victim of sexual misconduct during the time they were dating from about 1992 to 1998. He said he saw Ford going to great lengths to help a woman he believed was her "life-long best friend" prepare for a potential polygraph test. He added that the woman, Monica McLean, had been interviewing for jobs with the FBI and U.S. Attorney's office. He further claimed that Ford never voiced any fear of flying (even while aboard a propeller plane) and seemingly had no problem living in a "very small," 500 sq. ft. apartment with one door -- apparently contradicting her claims that she could not testify promptly in D.C. because she felt uncomfortable traveling on planes, as well as her suggestion that her memories of Kavanuagh's alleged assault prompted her to feel unsafe living in a closed space or one without a second front door. Ford "never expressed a fear of closed quarters, tight spaces, or places with only one exit," the former boyfriend wrote. However, on Thursday, Ford testified, "I was hoping to avoid getting on an airplane. But I eventually was able to get up the gumption with the help of some friends and get on the plane." She also acknowledged regularly -- and, in her words, "unfortunately" -- traveling on planes for work and hobbies. And Ford explicitly told Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on Thursday that she had a second front door installed in her home because of "anxiety, phobia and PTSD-like symptoms" that she purportedly suffered in the wake of Kavanaugh's alleged attack at a house party in the 1980s -- "more especially, claustrophobia, panic and that type of thing." In a pointed, no-holds-barred letter Tuesday evening that referenced the ex-boyfriend's declaration, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley demanded that attorneys for Ford turn over her therapist notes and other key materials, and suggested she was intentionally less than truthful about her experience with polygraph examinations during Thursday's dramatic Senate hearing. "Your continued withholding of material evidence despite multiple requests is unacceptable as the Senate exercises its constitutional responsibility of advice and consent for a judicial nomination," Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote. Under questioning from experienced sex-crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell last week, Ford said that she had "never" had "any discussions with anyone ... on how to take a polygraph" or "given any tips or advice to anyone who was looking to take a polygraph test." She repeatedly said the process of taking her own polygraph in August was stressful and uncomfortable, although she testified she could not remember if she took the test on the same day as her grandmother's funeral, or the next day. But in his declaration, the ex-boyfriend wrote that, "I witnessed Dr. Ford help [Monica L.] McLean prepare for a potential polygraph exam" and that Ford had "explained in detail what to expect, how polygraphs worked and helped [her] become familiar and less nervous about the exam," using her background in psychology. (McLean's name appeared on a list of Ford's former high school classmates who signed a letter of support for Ford last month). Ford's defense team and Democrats have repeatedly cited Ford's polygraph results as proof her credibility. Mitchell, in a report Sunday, said Ford's case was even weaker than the typical "He said, she said" situation and pointed out numerous discrepencies in her version of events that have emerged in the past several weeks, concerning everything from how many people were at the purported party to when it occurred and how she found her way home. Mitchell also noted that none of the witnesses Ford identified as having attended the party could back up her version of events. Some of the apparent inconsistencies, Grassley wrote, could possibly be addressed if Ford's legal team turned over all video or audio recordings produced during her own polygraph examination. Ford passed that polygraph, and in a handwritten statement she wrote prior to the test, she indicated "there were 4 boys and a couple of girls" at the gathering. FORD'S POLYGRAPH RESULTS SHOW KEY INCONSISTENCY -- HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE AT THE PARTY? However, in Ford's letter to Feinstein in July, she gave a different tally, writing instead that the party "included me and 4 others." Under oath on Thursday, Ford for the first time mentioned that a fourth boy was at the party, but that she could not remember his name. Grassley also demanded Ford's attorneys hand over notes from her 2012 therapy sessions in which she claimed to have discussed her alleged sexual assault decades ago. The senator said it was "not justified" any longer for Ford to cite privacy and medical privilege given that she has relied on them extensively as a kind of corroborating evidence to implicate Kavanaugh. On Thursday, Ford claimed she could not say definitively whether she had shared those notes with The Washington Post approximately two months ago, as opposed to describing them abstractly. The Post wrote that it had reviewed a "portion" of Ford's notes. Additionally, Grassley requested copies of communications between Ford and the media describing her allegations, saying that the legal team's failure to provide Ford's full correspondence with The Washington Post suggested a "lack of candor." In a separate letter to Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, who also sits on the Judiciary Committee, Grassley wrote, "The accuser freely admits to having no evidence whatsoever that Judge Kavanaugh even attended this party. … We’ve reached a new level of absurdity with this allegation." The scathing letters come as Fox News has learned from a source that the FBI may wrap up its investigation into misconduct accusations against Kavanaugh as soon as late Wednesday, potentially clearing the way for a final Senate vote on his confirmation within days.<doc-sep>“I am here because I believe it is my civic duty. ...” “This confirmation process has become a national disgrace.” “Early in the evening, I went up a very narrow set of stairs leading from the living room to a second floor to use the restroom. When I got to the top of the stairs, I was pushed from behind into a bedroom across from the bathroom. I couldn’t see who pushed me. Brett and Mark came into the bedroom and locked the door behind them. There was music playing in the bedroom. It was turned up louder by either Brett or Mark once we were in the room. I was pushed onto the bed and Brett got on top of me. He began running his hands over my body and grinding into me. I believed he was going to rape me. I tried to yell for help. When I did, Brett put his hand over my mouth to stop me from yelling. This is what terrified me the most and has had the most lasting impact on my life. It was hard for me to breathe, and I thought that Brett was accidentally going to kill me.” “Dr. Ford, with what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?” “One hundred percent.” “What is the strongest memory you have?” “Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter — the uproarious laughter between the two, and they’re having fun at my expense.” “You’ve never forgotten that laughter, never forgotten them laughing at you?” “I was underneath one of them while the two laughed — two friends having a really good time with one another.” “Are you aware that the three people at the party besides yourself and Brett Kavanaugh have given statements under penalty of felony to the committee?” “Yes.” “And are you aware of what those statements say?” “Yes.” “Are you aware that they say that they have no memory or knowledge of such a party?” “I don’t expect that P.J. and Leland would remember this evening. It was a very unremarkable party. It was not one of their more notorious parties. Because nothing remarkable happened to them that evening — they were downstairs. And Mr. Judge is a different story — I would expect that he would remember that this happened.” “I categorically and unequivocally deny the allegation against me by Dr. Ford. This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record, revenge on behalf of the Clintons and millions of dollars in money from outside, left-wing opposition groups. The other night, Ashley and my daughter Liza said their prayers. And little Liza, all of 10 years old, said to Ashley, we should pray for the woman.” “Was there ever a time when you drink so much that you couldn’t remember what happened or part of what happened the night before?” “I – no. I remember what happened. And, I think you’ve probably had beers, Senator, and so —” “So you’re saying there’s never been a case where you drank so much that you didn’t remember what happened the night before, or part of what happened?” “That’s — you’re asking about yeah, blackout. I don’t know, have you?” “Could you answer the question, Judge? And just — so you — that’s not happened? Is that your answer?” “Yeah, and I’m curious if you have.” “I have no drinking problem, Judge.” “Yeah, nor do I.” “O.K., thank you.” “In your yearbook, you talked about drinking and sexual exploits, did you not?” “Senator, let me take a step back and explain high school. I was No. 1 in the class, freshman —” “And I thought —” “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.” “I thought only the Senate could filibuster.” “I’m going to talk about my high school —” “I thought only the Senate could filibuster.” “No, no, I’m going to talk —” “Let him answer.” “I’m going to talk about my high school record if you’re going to sit here and mock me.” “You said, ‘I welcome any kind of investigation.’ I quote you. ‘I welcome any kind of investigation.’” “I welcome whatever the committee wants to do, because I’m telling the truth.” “I want to know what you want to do.” “I’m telling the truth.” “I want to know what you want to do, Judge.” “I’m innocent. I’m innocent of this charge.” “Then you’re prepared for an F.B.I. investigation?” “They don‘t reach conclusions. You reach the conclusions, Senator.“ “No, but they do investigate questions.” “If you wanted an F.B.I. investigation, you could’ve come to us. What you want to do is destroy this guy’s life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020. You said that, not me. You’ve got nothing to apologize for. When you see Sotomayor and Kagan, tell him that Lindsey said hello. Because I voted for them. I would never do to them what you’ve done to this guy. This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics. And if you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wouldn’t have done what you’ve done to this guy. Are you a gang rapist?” “No.” “I cannot imagine what you and your family have gone through.”<doc-sep>Television news networks have largely refused to cover a letter from a former boyfriend of Christine Blasey Ford that seemingly contradicts major parts of her sworn testimony given before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. The ex-boyfriend, who claims he dated Ford for six years, wrote in a sworn statement to the committee that he witnessed Ford coach a woman on how to pass a polygraph exam. He also claimed Ford never expressed a fear of flying, and that she lived in a small apartment with only one exit. His letter appears to sharply undercut Ford’s remarks during her testimony, when she claimed to have never given tips to anyone planning on taking a polygraph. Ford also expressed a fear of flying, and that she felt claustrophobic in small spaces and in residences with only one exit, saying this fear was part of the reason why she and her husband remodeled their house years ago. (RELATED: NBC Stealth Edits Article Accusing Kavanaugh Of Perjury) Yet this letter failed to catch the attention of most networks and news outlets. CNN has yet to run any segments about the story on-air, according to a search of TV clipping service Grabien. MSNBC did not fare much better and dedicated approximately just one minute about the news, thanks to a report from NBC reporter Kristen Welker. On NBC, only Megyn Kelly discussed the story on her show. “That’s yet another example that some officials are pointing to as to why President Trump felt emboldened to go after Dr. Ford,” Welker said of the consequences of the sworn statement. WATCH: As of 1 PM, neither CBS or ABC covered the story either in their morning and afternoon news programs. Yet the absence of coverage about the letter does not mean these outlets have shied away from the Kavanaugh story. Instead, anchors and commentators have instead focussed on President Donald Trump’s at a rally Tuesday night. Ford’s lawyers released a statement from the friend of Ford who the ex-boyfriend claims received polygraph coaching. “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.” Follow Joe on Twitter Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.<doc-sep>
Senate Republicans, through less brash methods than the president’s, have ramped up their effort to discredit Christine Blasey Ford with a sworn statement from a man professing to be Ford’s former boyfriend and contradicting answers she gave before the Senate Judiciary Committee. In the statement obtained by Fox News on Tuesday, the ex-boyfriend claims Ford had helped her close friend prepare for a polygraph test, despite Ford’s statement to the Judiciary Committee that she had never “given tips or advice” to anyone preparing to take a polygraph test. The redacted statement by the ex-boyfriend, who has remained anonymous, also claims that Ford had not, in the six years the two dated, expressed a fear of flying or of “closed quarters, tight spaces, or places with only one exit.” Ford stood by her testimony, and a source told Politico that she “is not going to get into a tit-for-tat.” The friend mentioned in the statement, Monica McLean, denied the polygraph claim. “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 told Politico in response. The ex-boyfriend said he had dated Ford from 1992 to ’98, and he said he “found her truthful and maintain no animus towards her.” According to the New York Times, the ex-boyfriend is Brian Merrick, who said, in an article in the Wall Street Journal, that he met Ford while she was pursuing a master’s degree at Pepperdine University and found her “sweet, cute and with a good attitude.” He wrote in the letter that Ford had never mentioned Kavanaugh to him, which is consistent with her testimony that she did not tell anyone about the alleged assault until 2002. He told the Journal he found it odd Kavanaugh had not come up in their relationship, “but I would never try to discredit what she says or what she believes.” He also said he broke up with Ford when they were dating long-distance and he found out she had been “unfaithful” while she was living in Hawaii. He said she continued to use a credit card they shared nearly a year after the breakup. “When confronted, Dr. Ford said she did not use the card, but later admitted to the use after I threatened to involve fraud protection,” he said. He said they had not been in contact much since. The part of his statement that Kavanaugh supporters seized on related to an anecdote about McLean, whom he described as Ford’s “life-long best friend” and who was allegedly interviewing for a job with the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office at some point in the 1990s. “I witnessed Dr. Ford help McLean prepare for a potential polygraph exam,” he wrote. “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.” Here is the exchange from the hearing between her and outside prosecutor Rachel Mitchell that Kavanaugh supporters have pointed to as being potentially a lie: MITCHELL: Have you ever had discussions with anyone, beside your attorneys, on how to take a polygraph? FORD: Never. MITCHELL: And I don’t just mean countermeasures, but I mean just any sort of tips, or anything like that. FORD: No. I was scared of the test itself, but was comfortable that I could tell the information, and the test would reveal whatever it was going to reveal. I didn’t expect it to be as long as it was going to be, so it was a little bit stressful. MITCHELL: Had — have you ever given tips or advice to somebody who was looking to take a polygraph test? FORD: Never. The second question, while not completely unrelated to the topic at hand, seemed strange at the time, and some speculated that she was setting Ford up for a perjury trap that was never triggered. It now appears Mitchell, who has since released a report aimed at discrediting Ford, knew something about the statement, or at least was guided to ask about Ford advising someone about a polygraph.