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- remove entire section, Sexual assault allegations, will add back momentarily, see what article looks like without that entire info.
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Ford "specializes in designing statistical models for research projects in order to make sure they come to accurate conclusions," as summarized by [[Helena Chmura Kraemer]], a Stanford professor emeritus in biostatistics who co-authored a book and several articles with Ford.<ref name=Mercury>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/09/16/kavanaugh-accuser-palo-alto-professor-christine-blasey-ford-lauded-as-truth-teller/|title=Kavanaugh accuser lauded as 'truth teller'; senator says nomination may see delay|date=September 16, 2018|work=[[The Mercury News]]|access-date=September 17, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Ford has written or co-written several books about psychological topics, including depression.<ref name=Dangelo/> Her other research topics published in academic journal articles have included [[child abuse]] and the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name=Schallhorn>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/09/17/who-is-christine-blasey-ford-professor-who-accused-brett-kavanaugh-sexual-misconduct.html|work=[[Fox News]]|title=Who is Christine Blasey Ford, the professor who accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct?|date=September 17, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2018|first=Kaitlyn|last=Schallhorn}}</ref><ref name=Dangelo/> In 2015, she co-authored a book entitled ''How Many Subjects? Statistical Power Analysis in Research.''<ref name=Dangelo>{{Cite news|title=Who is Christine Blasey Ford, Brett Kavanaugh's accuser?|work=[[Atlanta Journal Constitution]]|date=September 16, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2018|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/who-christine-blasey-ford-brett-kavanaugh-accuser/y6KiC7AscvbH1rpPHRS5LK/|first=Bob|last=D'Angelo}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last2=Blasey|first2=Christine M.|title=How Many Subjects?: Statistical Power Analysis in Research|first1=Helen Chmura|last1=Kraemer|year=2015|publisher=[[Sage Publishing]]|isbn=978-1483319544}}</ref> Ford's research into the social impact of hiding one's sexual orientation was published in 2016 in the journal ''[[Behavior Therapy (journal)|Behavior Therapy]]'', and reviewed by psychologist William Gibson of the [[American Psychological Association]], who found their research "demonstrates that issues of identity have relevance to mental health outcomes in ways that much of previous work misses."<ref name=Gibson>{{Cite journal|journal=Division 44 Newsletter|date=April 2016|title=Research: Concealing sexual orientation is connected to social phobia|first=William|last=Gibson|url=http://www.apadivisions.org/division-44/publications/newsletters/division/2016/04/social-phobia.aspx|access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref>
Ford "specializes in designing statistical models for research projects in order to make sure they come to accurate conclusions," as summarized by [[Helena Chmura Kraemer]], a Stanford professor emeritus in biostatistics who co-authored a book and several articles with Ford.<ref name=Mercury>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/09/16/kavanaugh-accuser-palo-alto-professor-christine-blasey-ford-lauded-as-truth-teller/|title=Kavanaugh accuser lauded as 'truth teller'; senator says nomination may see delay|date=September 16, 2018|work=[[The Mercury News]]|access-date=September 17, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Ford has written or co-written several books about psychological topics, including depression.<ref name=Dangelo/> Her other research topics published in academic journal articles have included [[child abuse]] and the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name=Schallhorn>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/09/17/who-is-christine-blasey-ford-professor-who-accused-brett-kavanaugh-sexual-misconduct.html|work=[[Fox News]]|title=Who is Christine Blasey Ford, the professor who accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct?|date=September 17, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2018|first=Kaitlyn|last=Schallhorn}}</ref><ref name=Dangelo/> In 2015, she co-authored a book entitled ''How Many Subjects? Statistical Power Analysis in Research.''<ref name=Dangelo>{{Cite news|title=Who is Christine Blasey Ford, Brett Kavanaugh's accuser?|work=[[Atlanta Journal Constitution]]|date=September 16, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2018|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/who-christine-blasey-ford-brett-kavanaugh-accuser/y6KiC7AscvbH1rpPHRS5LK/|first=Bob|last=D'Angelo}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last2=Blasey|first2=Christine M.|title=How Many Subjects?: Statistical Power Analysis in Research|first1=Helen Chmura|last1=Kraemer|year=2015|publisher=[[Sage Publishing]]|isbn=978-1483319544}}</ref> Ford's research into the social impact of hiding one's sexual orientation was published in 2016 in the journal ''[[Behavior Therapy (journal)|Behavior Therapy]]'', and reviewed by psychologist William Gibson of the [[American Psychological Association]], who found their research "demonstrates that issues of identity have relevance to mental health outcomes in ways that much of previous work misses."<ref name=Gibson>{{Cite journal|journal=Division 44 Newsletter|date=April 2016|title=Research: Concealing sexual orientation is connected to social phobia|first=William|last=Gibson|url=http://www.apadivisions.org/division-44/publications/newsletters/division/2016/04/social-phobia.aspx|access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref>

==Sexual assault allegation against Brett Kavanaugh==
{{see also|Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination}}
[[File:2018 09 26 Written Testimony of Dr Christine Blasey Ford.pdf|thumb|left|alt=PDF document of Ford's written testimony|Ford's written testimony]]
Ford became a public figure in the summer of 2018. In early July 2018, after Judge [[Brett Kavanaugh]] was reported to be on [[Donald Trump]]'s shortlist to become an [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States]], Ford contacted both ''[[The Washington Post]]'' and her [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[Anna Eshoo]].<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/> On July 20,<ref name=Testimony27Sep2018/> eleven days after [[Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination|Trump nominated Kavanaugh]], Eshoo met with Ford, becoming convinced of her credibility and noting that Ford seemed "terrified" that her identity as an accuser might become public. Eshoo and Ford decided to take the matter to [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Dianne Feinstein]], one of Ford's Senators in California and the ranking [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] on the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]], which would deliberate Kavanaugh's nomination.<ref name=WaPo19Sep2018>{{cite news|last=DeBonis|first=Mike|date=September 19, 2018|title='I told her that I believed her': Calif. lawmaker describes meeting with Kavanaugh accuser|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/19/i-told-her-that-i-believed-her-calif-lawmaker-describes-meeting-with-kavanaugh-accuser/|work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref> In a letter to Feinstein, Ford alleged that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when both were in high school, and stated that she expected her story to be kept confidential.<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/16/politics/blasey-ford-kavanaugh-letter-feinstein/index.html|title=Read the letter Christine Blasey Ford sent accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct|publisher=CNN|access-date=September 17, 2018}}</ref> In August, Ford took a [[polygraph]] test with a former [[FBI]] agent, who concluded Ford was being truthful when attesting to the accuracy of her allegations.<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/>

Owing to her confidentiality commitment to Ford,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ktla.com/2018/09/17/sen-feinstein-says-kavanaughs-accuser-wanted-her-to-keep-letter-detailing-allegations-confidential/|title=Sen. Feinstein Says Kavanaugh's Accuser Wanted Her to Keep Letter Detailing Allegations Confidential|date=September 18, 2018|work=KTLA|access-date=September 21, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Feinstein did not raise the issue in the initial Kavanaugh confirmation proceedings.<ref>{{cite news|last=Haberkorn|first=Jennifer|date=September 19, 2018|title=The GOP wants to know why Feinstein didn't come forward sooner with Kavanaugh allegation|url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-congress-kavanaugh-feinstein-20180919-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref> On September 12, ''[[The Intercept]]'' reported (without naming Ford) that Feinstein was withholding a Kavanaugh-related document from fellow Judiciary Committee Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grim|first=Ryan|url=https://theintercept.com/2018/09/12/brett-kavanaugh-confirmation-dianne-feinstein/|title=Dianne Feinstein Withholding Brett Kavanaugh Document From Fellow Judiciary Committee Democrats|date=September 12, 2018|work=The Intercept|accessdate=September 20, 2018}}</ref> Feinstein then referred Ford's letter to the FBI, which redacted Ford's name and forwarded the letter to the White House<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/> as an update to Kavanaugh's background check.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/13/dianne-feinstein-refers-letter-on-supreme-court-nominee-kavanaugh-to-feds.html|title=Sen. Dianne Feinstein refers mysterious letter about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to federal authorities|last=Higgins|first=Tucker|date=September 13, 2018|website=cnbc.com|publisher=[[CNBC]]|access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref> The White House in turn sent the letter to the full Senate Judiciary Committee.<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/>

[[File:Dr Blasey Ford tells Durbin, with 100 percent certainty, that Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her.webm|thumb|alt=Video of 4 minutes and 47 seconds in length in which Senator Dick Durbin asks Ford about the alleged attack and her certainty that Kavanaugh was the attacker, to which she responded that she is 100 percent certain that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982|Senator [[Dick Durbin]] asks Christine Blasey Ford about her certainty of Brett Kavanaugh's identity in the alleged 1982 attack.]]
On September 16, after media reported anonymous allegations and reporters started to track down her identity, Ford went public.<ref name=Stolberg/> Ford had wrestled with the choice to make her identity known, weighing the potential negative impact it could have on her,<ref name=Columbia>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/kavanaugh-ford-hearing.php|title=Christine Blasey Ford, Brett Kavanaugh, and a nomination in limbo|access-date=September 18, 2018|date=September 18, 2018|work=[[Columbia Journalism Review]]|first=Pete|last=Vernon}}</ref><ref name=Brian>{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/16/media/reliable-sources-09-16-18/index.html|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=September 18, 2018|title=Post reporter says Kavanaugh accuser was 'terrified about going public'|date=September 16, 2018|first=Brian|last=Stelter|authorlink=Brian Stelter}}</ref> but ultimately spoke to ''The Washington Post'', alleging that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in the summer of 1982 when she was 15 and he was 17.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-kavanaugh/trump-court-nominees-accuser-has-not-agreed-to-testify-senator-idUSKCN1LY2E4|access-date=September 18, 2018|date=September 18, 2018|work=[[Reuters]]|title=Doubts arise over whether Trump court nominee's accuser will testify|first=Lawrence|last=Hurley}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/christine-blasey-ford-brett-kavanaugh-accuser-comes-forward-in-interview-with-the-washington-post/|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=September 18, 2018|date=September 16, 2018|title=Woman who wrote letter accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault steps forward}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wbrc.com/2018/09/17/accuser-story-attack-roils-plan-kavanaugh-vote/|access-date=September 18, 2018|work=[[WBRC]]|title=Hearing sets up dramatic showdown between Kavanaugh, accuser|first=Alan|last=Fram|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=September 17, 2018}}</ref> She said that, while his friend [[Mark Judge (writer)|Mark Judge]] watched, Kavanaugh, intoxicated, held her down on a bed with his body, grinding against and groping her, covering her mouth when she tried to scream and trying to pull her clothes off.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/nation/article/Palo-Alto-woman-who-accused-Kavanaugh-of-sexual-13234048.php|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|access-date=September 18, 2018|title=Palo Alto woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct steps into spotlight|date=September 16, 2018|first=Sheryl Gay|last=Stolberg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/breaking-news/report-brett-kavanaugh-s-accuser-over-sexual-assault-in-1980s-reveals-identity/835466639|work=[[WSB-TV]]|title=Brett Kavanaugh for SCOTUS: Senate to hold new hearing Monday on Kavanaugh sexual assault allegation|agency=[[Cox Media Group]]|date=September 17, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref> Finding it hard to breathe, she thought Kavanaugh was {{em|accidentally}} (her emphasis) going to kill her.<ref name=NYT26Sep2018/> She recounted escaping when Judge jumped on them both and they all fell.<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/> As corroboration of her account, Ford provided ''The Post'' with the polygraph as well as session notes from her therapist written in 2012.<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/>

The therapist's notes do not name Kavanaugh but record Ford's claim of being attacked by students "from an elitist boys' school" who went on to become "highly respected and high-ranking members of society in Washington". The therapist's notes also say four boys were involved, which Ford attributed to an error by the therapist; Ford said in 2018 that four boys were at the party but only two were involved in the incident.<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/> Ford's husband recalled that she had used Kavanaugh's last name in her 2012 description of the incident.<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/> Kavanaugh and Judge both denied Ford's allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/09/17/sen-orrin-hatch-says-kavanaugh-denied-being-at-party-described-by-accuser-ford.html|title=Sen. Orrin Hatch says Kavanaugh denied being at party described by accuser Ford|last=Chamberlain|first=Samuel|date=September 17, 2018|website=foxnews.com|publisher=[[Fox News]]|access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref> Attorneys [[Debra Katz]], Lisa Blanks and [[Michael R. Bromwich|Michael Bromwich]] represent Ford ''[[pro bono]]''<ref name=Testimony27Sep2018/> in the process of going public with her statements about Kavanaugh.<ref name=Sulek/><ref name=Stolberg>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/16/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford-sexual-assault.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Kavanaugh's Nomination in Turmoil as Accuser Says He Assaulted Her Decades Ago|first=Sheryl Gay|last=Stolberg|date=September 16, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/former-fed-prosecutor-joins-kavangaugh-accusers-legal-team_us_5ba6bef6e4b0181540dda724|title=Former Federal Prosecutor Joins Kavanaugh Accuser's Legal Team|last=Papenfuss|first=Mary|date=September 23, 2018|work=Huffington Post|access-date=September 24, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> She was assisted in preparing her testimony by Democratic adviser [[Ricki Seidman]], who prepared [[Anita Hill]] for her testimony against [[Clarence Thomas]] during his [[Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination|1991 Supreme Court nomination hearings]].<ref>{{Cite web|last= Axelrod |first=Tal |authorlink= |title=Ford taps Obama, Clinton alum to navigate Senate hearing |publisher=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date= September 20, 2018|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/407662-ford-taps-obama-clinton-alum-to-navigate-senate-hearing |accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last= Karni|first= Annie|title=Kavanaugh accuser leans on Democratic operative for advice - Christine Blasey Ford is looking to Ricki Seidman, who helped prepare Anita Hill, to help her navigate a potential hearing |publisher=[[Politico]]|date= September 20, 2018|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/20/kavanaugh-accuser-democratic-operative-advice-833013 |accessdate=}}</ref>

On September 18, Ford's attorneys sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman [[Chuck Grassley]] requesting that the FBI investigate the incident before the Senate holds a hearing on Ford's allegations to "ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions." The letter additionally noted the significant public support Ford had received, but also severe harassment including death threats, forcing her to leave her home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/18/politics/ford-letter-fbi/index.html|title=Ford wants FBI investigation before testifying|last=Tatum|first=Sophie|date=September 18, 2018|website=cnn.com|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref> The same day, a [[crowdfunding]] campaign was created to defray Ford's security costs, surpassing its $100,000 goal in less than 24 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2018/09/19/blasey-ford-supreme-court-nominee-kavanaugh-gofundme/|title=A GoFundMe for Kavanaugh Accuser Christine Blasey Ford's Private Security Met Its Goal in Just Hours|last=Shoot|first=Brittany|date=September 19, 2018|website=fortune.com|publisher=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|access-date=September 19, 2018}}</ref>

On September 21, President Trump [[tweeted]] about Ford, saying that if Ford's allegations were true, either she or her parents would have reported them at the time of the event.<ref name=":0" /> ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' called the tweet an attempt "to undermine her allegation"<ref>{{cite news|last=Bach|first=Natasha|date=September 21, 2018|title=Trump Swipes at Kavanaugh Accuser Christine Blasey Ford on Twitter|url=http://fortune.com/2018/09/21/kavanaugh-ford-trump-twitter/|work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|access-date=September 21, 2018}}</ref> and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Senator [[Susan Collins]]—considered a key [[swing vote]] on Kavanaugh's nomination—said she is "appalled" by Trump's tweet, calling it "inappropriate and wrong".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/21/politics/susan-collins-kavanaugh-accuser-trump/index.html|title=Susan Collins 'appalled' by Trump's tweet about Christine Blasey Ford|last1=Foran|first1=Clare|last2=Acosta|first2=Jim|date=September 21, 2018|website=cnn.com|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=September 21, 2018}}</ref> Trump issued several more statements, including a tweet alleging that Kavanaugh was "under assault by radical left wing politicians".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Malloy |first1=Allie |title=Trump unleashes on Kavanaugh accuser |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/21/politics/donald-trump-brett-kavanaugh-accuser-tweets/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |accessdate=September 22, 2018 |date=September 22, 2018}}</ref>

On September 27, the Senate Judiciary Committee held an additional day of public hearings to discuss her allegations. Ford and Kavanaugh were the only witnesses scheduled.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/what-know-about-brett-kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford-senate-hearing-n913376|title=What to know about the Brett Kavanaugh-Christine Blasey Ford Senate hearing|last=Shabad|first=Rebecca|date=September 27, 2018|work=NBC News|accessdate=27 September 2018}}</ref> Ford testified that Kavanaugh "groped me and tried to take off my clothes," at a time when both were attending high school.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/27/kavanaugh-accuser-ford-gives-gripping-emotional-opening-statement.html|title=Kavanaugh accuser Ford describes her alleged attackers' 'laughter' in gripping testimony|date=September 27, 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref> Kavanaugh had previously denied all allegations of sexual assault as "totally false and outrageous" and testified separately later in the day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/09/27/kananaugh-ford-hearing-live-blog-supreme-court-nominee-and-professor-testify-on-sexual-assault-accusations.html|title=Kavanaugh, Ford hearing live blog: Supreme Court nominee and professor testify on sexual assault accusations|date=September 27, 2018|work=FOX News|access-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref> Republican members of the committee did not question Ford directly; questioning on their behalf was done by [[Rachel Mitchell]], "a career prosecutor with decades of experience prosecuting sex crimes," according to [[CBS News]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/brett-kavanaugh-hearing-live-testimony-today-after-dr-ford-sexual-assault-allegations-2018-09-27/|title=Brett Kavanaugh confirmation: Kavanaugh testifies following Ford's questioning on sex assault allegations - live updates|accessdate=27 September 2018|publisher=CBS}}</ref> Alternating with her questions, Democratic members of the committee questioned Ford themselves.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/current/the-formal-ping-pong-of-the-questioning-in-the-kavanaugh-ford-hearing|title=The Formal Ping-Pong of the Questioning in the Kavanaugh-Ford Hearing|last=Wallace-Wells|first=Benjamin|date=September 27, 2018|work=The New Yorker|accessdate=27 September 2018}}</ref> On September 28, after a request from U.S. Senator [[Jeff Flake]], followed by a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee, President Trump ordered an FBI supplemental background investigation concerning the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh.<ref name=trumporders>{{citation|access-date=September 28, 2018|date=September 28, 2018|work=[[NPR]]|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/09/28/652486413/judiciary-committee-set-to-vote-on-kavanaugh-friday-with-eyes-on-undecided-jeff|title=Trump Orders Limited FBI Investigation To Supplement Kavanaugh Background Check|first1=Scott|last1=Detrow|first2=Tim|last2=Mak|first3=Jessica|last3=Taylor}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==


Ford lives in [[Palo Alto, California]], with her husband Russell Ford, whom she married in 2002, and their two sons.<ref name=Weise/><ref name=Anderson/><ref name=Mercury/> She is the aunt of actress and singer [[Bridgit Mendler]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/20/politics/blasey-ford-family-statement/index.html|title=Ford's family issues statement of support|last=Cole|first=Devan|date=September 20, 2018|work=CNN|access-date=September 21, 2018|others=Contributions by Eli Watkins, Gloria Borger, and Kate Sullivan}}</ref> Ford is a registered [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] who has made small contributions to political organizations.<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/> In&nbsp;2017, she participated in a local [[2017 Women's March|Women's March]] protesting President [[Donald Trump|Trump]]<ref name=Sulek/> and attended a [[March for Science]] in San Francisco to protest the [[Trump administration]]'s cuts to research.<ref name=Anderson/>
Ford lives in [[Palo Alto, California]], with her husband Russell Ford, whom she married in 2002, and their two sons.<ref name=Weise/><ref name=Anderson/><ref name=Mercury/> She is the aunt of actress and singer [[Bridgit Mendler]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/20/politics/blasey-ford-family-statement/index.html|title=Ford's family issues statement of support|last=Cole|first=Devan|date=September 20, 2018|work=CNN|access-date=September 21, 2018|others=Contributions by Eli Watkins, Gloria Borger, and Kate Sullivan}}</ref> Ford is a registered [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] who has made small contributions to political organizations.<ref name=WaPo16Sep2018/> In&nbsp;2017, she participated in a local [[2017 Women's March|Women's March]] protesting President [[Donald Trump|Trump]]<ref name=Sulek/> and attended a [[March for Science]] in San Francisco to protest the [[Trump administration]]'s cuts to research.<ref name=Anderson/> Ford has considered moving to places such as [[New Zealand]] if Kavanaugh were to become a Supreme Court Justice.<ref name=moved3000>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/christine-blasey-ford-wanted-to-flee-the-us-to-avoid-brett-kavanaugh-now-she-may-testify-against-him/2018/09/22/db942340-bdb1-11e8-8792-78719177250f_story.html|work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 23, 2018|date=September 22, 2018|title=Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford moved 3,000 miles to reinvent her life. It wasn't far enough.|first1=Jessica|last1=Contrera|first2=Ian|last2=Shapira|first3=Emma|last3=Brown|first4=Steve|last4=Hendrix}}</ref>


==Publications==
==Publications==

Revision as of 13:12, 29 September 2018

Christine Blasey Ford
Ford testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee, September 27, 2018
Born
Christine Margaret Blasey

1966 (age 57–58)[4]
Other namesChristine Blasey[5]
OccupationProfessor of Psychology
Spouse
Russell Ford
​
(m. 2002)​
Children2 sons
RelativesBridgit Mendler (niece)
Academic background
Education
ThesisMeasuring Young Children's Coping Responses to Interpersonal Conflict (1995)
Doctoral advisorMichael D. Newcomb[3]
Academic work
DisciplinePsychology
Institutions

Christine Margaret Blasey Ford (/ˈblɑːzi/;[1] born November 1966)[4] is an American professor of psychology at Palo Alto University and a research psychologist at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Widely published in her field, she specializes in designing statistical models for research projects.[6] During her academic career, Ford has worked as a research psychologist for Stanford University's Department of Psychiatry[7] and a professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine Collaborative Clinical Psychology Program.[8]

In September 2018, Ford publicly alleged that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982, in what she described as an attempted rape.[9] She later testified about her allegations during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings regarding Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination.[1]

Early life and education

Ford grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. From 1978 through 1984,[1] she attended the Holton-Arms School, a private, all-girls university-preparatory school in Bethesda, Maryland.[2] While on her regional sports team for diving, she accompanied diver Greg Louganis on a trip to the White House to discuss the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott.[10]

She earned an undergraduate degree in experimental psychology in 1988[2] from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[1] She received a master's degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University in 1991.[2] In 1996, she received a PhD in educational psychology from the University of Southern California.[2] Her 1995 dissertation was entitled Measuring Young Children's Coping Responses to Interpersonal Conflict.[11] In 2009, she earned a master's degree in epidemiology, with a focus on the subject of biostatistics,[12] from Stanford University School of Medicine.[2]

Career

Ford began teaching at Stanford University in 1988.[13] As of September 2018, she works at Palo Alto University teaching students clinical trial design and data analysis.[14] Additionally, she participates in educational programs with the Stanford University School of Medicine as a member of a consortium group with Palo Alto University.[13][14][15]

Through this consortium group, called the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (PGSP), Ford teaches subjects including psychometrics, study methodologies, and statistics.[10][15] She has also performed consulting work for multiple pharmaceutical companies.[16] Ford worked as the director of biostatistics at Corcept Therapeutics, and collaborated with FDA statisticians.[11] According to The Washington Post, NPR, and CBS News, Ford is widely published within her field.[9][15][17]

Ford "specializes in designing statistical models for research projects in order to make sure they come to accurate conclusions," as summarized by Helena Chmura Kraemer, a Stanford professor emeritus in biostatistics who co-authored a book and several articles with Ford.[6] Ford has written or co-written several books about psychological topics, including depression.[18] Her other research topics published in academic journal articles have included child abuse and the September 11 attacks.[13][18] In 2015, she co-authored a book entitled How Many Subjects? Statistical Power Analysis in Research.[18][19] Ford's research into the social impact of hiding one's sexual orientation was published in 2016 in the journal Behavior Therapy, and reviewed by psychologist William Gibson of the American Psychological Association, who found their research "demonstrates that issues of identity have relevance to mental health outcomes in ways that much of previous work misses."[20]

Sexual assault allegation against Brett Kavanaugh

See also: Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination
PDF document of Ford's written testimony
Ford's written testimony

Ford became a public figure in the summer of 2018. In early July 2018, after Judge Brett Kavanaugh was reported to be on Donald Trump's shortlist to become an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Ford contacted both The Washington Post and her Representative Anna Eshoo.[9] On July 20,[1] eleven days after Trump nominated Kavanaugh, Eshoo met with Ford, becoming convinced of her credibility and noting that Ford seemed "terrified" that her identity as an accuser might become public. Eshoo and Ford decided to take the matter to Senator Dianne Feinstein, one of Ford's Senators in California and the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would deliberate Kavanaugh's nomination.[21] In a letter to Feinstein, Ford alleged that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when both were in high school, and stated that she expected her story to be kept confidential.[9][22] In August, Ford took a polygraph test with a former FBI agent, who concluded Ford was being truthful when attesting to the accuracy of her allegations.[9]

Owing to her confidentiality commitment to Ford,[23] Feinstein did not raise the issue in the initial Kavanaugh confirmation proceedings.[24] On September 12, The Intercept reported (without naming Ford) that Feinstein was withholding a Kavanaugh-related document from fellow Judiciary Committee Democrats.[25] Feinstein then referred Ford's letter to the FBI, which redacted Ford's name and forwarded the letter to the White House[9] as an update to Kavanaugh's background check.[26] The White House in turn sent the letter to the full Senate Judiciary Committee.[9]

Senator Dick Durbin asks Christine Blasey Ford about her certainty of Brett Kavanaugh's identity in the alleged 1982 attack.

On September 16, after media reported anonymous allegations and reporters started to track down her identity, Ford went public.[27] Ford had wrestled with the choice to make her identity known, weighing the potential negative impact it could have on her,[28][29] but ultimately spoke to The Washington Post, alleging that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in the summer of 1982 when she was 15 and he was 17.[30][31][32] She said that, while his friend Mark Judge watched, Kavanaugh, intoxicated, held her down on a bed with his body, grinding against and groping her, covering her mouth when she tried to scream and trying to pull her clothes off.[33][34] Finding it hard to breathe, she thought Kavanaugh was accidentally (her emphasis) going to kill her.[2] She recounted escaping when Judge jumped on them both and they all fell.[9] As corroboration of her account, Ford provided The Post with the polygraph as well as session notes from her therapist written in 2012.[9]

The therapist's notes do not name Kavanaugh but record Ford's claim of being attacked by students "from an elitist boys' school" who went on to become "highly respected and high-ranking members of society in Washington". The therapist's notes also say four boys were involved, which Ford attributed to an error by the therapist; Ford said in 2018 that four boys were at the party but only two were involved in the incident.[9] Ford's husband recalled that she had used Kavanaugh's last name in her 2012 description of the incident.[9] Kavanaugh and Judge both denied Ford's allegations.[35] Attorneys Debra Katz, Lisa Blanks and Michael Bromwich represent Ford pro bono[1] in the process of going public with her statements about Kavanaugh.[10][27][36] She was assisted in preparing her testimony by Democratic adviser Ricki Seidman, who prepared Anita Hill for her testimony against Clarence Thomas during his 1991 Supreme Court nomination hearings.[37][38]

On September 18, Ford's attorneys sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley requesting that the FBI investigate the incident before the Senate holds a hearing on Ford's allegations to "ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions." The letter additionally noted the significant public support Ford had received, but also severe harassment including death threats, forcing her to leave her home.[39] The same day, a crowdfunding campaign was created to defray Ford's security costs, surpassing its $100,000 goal in less than 24 hours.[40]

On September 21, President Trump tweeted about Ford, saying that if Ford's allegations were true, either she or her parents would have reported them at the time of the event.[41] Fortune called the tweet an attempt "to undermine her allegation"[42] and Republican Senator Susan Collins—considered a key swing vote on Kavanaugh's nomination—said she is "appalled" by Trump's tweet, calling it "inappropriate and wrong".[43] Trump issued several more statements, including a tweet alleging that Kavanaugh was "under assault by radical left wing politicians".[44]

On September 27, the Senate Judiciary Committee held an additional day of public hearings to discuss her allegations. Ford and Kavanaugh were the only witnesses scheduled.[45] Ford testified that Kavanaugh "groped me and tried to take off my clothes," at a time when both were attending high school.[46] Kavanaugh had previously denied all allegations of sexual assault as "totally false and outrageous" and testified separately later in the day.[47] Republican members of the committee did not question Ford directly; questioning on their behalf was done by Rachel Mitchell, "a career prosecutor with decades of experience prosecuting sex crimes," according to CBS News.[48] Alternating with her questions, Democratic members of the committee questioned Ford themselves.[49] On September 28, after a request from U.S. Senator Jeff Flake, followed by a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee, President Trump ordered an FBI supplemental background investigation concerning the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh.[50]

Personal life

Ford lives in Palo Alto, California, with her husband Russell Ford, whom she married in 2002, and their two sons.[14][15][6] She is the aunt of actress and singer Bridgit Mendler.[41] Ford is a registered Democrat who has made small contributions to political organizations.[9] In 2017, she participated in a local Women's March protesting President Trump[10] and attended a March for Science in San Francisco to protest the Trump administration's cuts to research.[15] Ford has considered moving to places such as New Zealand if Kavanaugh were to become a Supreme Court Justice.[51]

Publications

Books

  • Kraemer, Helen Chmura; Blasey, Christine M. (2015). How Many Subjects?: Statistical Power Analysis in Research. Sage Publishing. ISBN 978-1483319544.
  • Saxena, Kirti; Blasey, Christine (2004). "Research Methodology in Clinical Trials". In Steiner, Hans (ed.). Handbook of Mental Health Interventions in Children and Adolescents: An Integrated Developmental Approach. Jossey-Bass. ISBN 978-0787961541.
  • Blasey, Christine; Belanoff, Joseph K.; DeBattista, Charles; Shatzberg, Alan F. (2013). "Adult Psychopharmacology". In Koocher, Gerald; Norcross, John C.; Greene, Beverly A. (eds.). Psychologists' Desk Reference: Third Edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199845491.

Journal articles

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Sexual Assault Hearing". c-span.org. C-SPAN. September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Read Christine Blasey Ford's Prepared Statement". The New York Times. September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  3. ^ Blasey, Christine Margaret (August 1995). "Measuring young children's coping responses to interpersonal conflict". Retrieved September 17, 2018 – via ProQuest. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b Berzon, Alexandra; Gurman, Sadie; Elinson, Zusha (September 19, 2018). "Portrait of Kavanaugh Accuser Christine Blasey Ford: Thorough, Guarded, Accomplished Academic". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  5. ^ Murphy, Brian (September 17, 2018). "Kavanaugh accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, graduated from UNC in 1988". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Kavanaugh accuser lauded as 'truth teller'; senator says nomination may see delay". The Mercury News. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  7. ^ "Christine Blasey – Research Psychologist, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)". med.stanford.edu. Stanford School of Medicine. 2015. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  8. ^ "Who is Christine Blasey Ford, the Palo Alto professor accusing Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct?". Palo Alto Daily Post. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Brown, Emma (September 16, 2018). "California professor, writer of confidential Brett Kavanaugh letter, speaks out about her allegation of sexual assault". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2018. Her work has been widely published in academic journals. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ a b c d Sulek, Julia Prodis (September 17, 2018). "Christine Blasey Ford feared an avalanche of attacks if she went public about Kavanaugh, friends say". The Mercury News. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Palo Alto University 2015-16 Catalog" (PDF). Palo Alto University. 2016. p. 190.
  12. ^ Tchekmedyian, Alene (September 18, 2018). "Who is Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (September 17, 2018). "Who is Christine Blasey Ford, the professor who accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct?". Fox News. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  14. ^ a b c Weise, Elizabeth (September 17, 2018). "Who is Christine Blasey Ford, the professor accusing Brett Kavanaugh of assault?". USA Today. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  15. ^ a b c d e Anderson, Meg (September 17, 2018). "Who Is Christine Blasey Ford, The Woman Accusing Brett Kavanaugh Of Sexual Assault?". National Public Radio. Retrieved September 18, 2018. She has been widely published in her field.
  16. ^ "Who is Christine Blasey Ford? We're just beginning to find out". The Salt Lake Tribune. September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  17. ^ "What to watch for during Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford hearing". CBS News. September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018. She is a widely-published professor at Palo Alto University, teaching clinical psychology to graduate students.
  18. ^ a b c D'Angelo, Bob (September 16, 2018). "Who is Christine Blasey Ford, Brett Kavanaugh's accuser?". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  19. ^ Kraemer, Helen Chmura; Blasey, Christine M. (2015). How Many Subjects?: Statistical Power Analysis in Research. Sage Publishing. ISBN 978-1483319544.
  20. ^ Gibson, William (April 2016). "Research: Concealing sexual orientation is connected to social phobia". Division 44 Newsletter. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  21. ^ DeBonis, Mike (September 19, 2018). "'I told her that I believed her': Calif. lawmaker describes meeting with Kavanaugh accuser". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  22. ^ "Read the letter Christine Blasey Ford sent accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct". CNN. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  23. ^ "Sen. Feinstein Says Kavanaugh's Accuser Wanted Her to Keep Letter Detailing Allegations Confidential". KTLA. September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  24. ^ Haberkorn, Jennifer (September 19, 2018). "The GOP wants to know why Feinstein didn't come forward sooner with Kavanaugh allegation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  25. ^ Grim, Ryan (September 12, 2018). "Dianne Feinstein Withholding Brett Kavanaugh Document From Fellow Judiciary Committee Democrats". The Intercept. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  26. ^ Higgins, Tucker (September 13, 2018). "Sen. Dianne Feinstein refers mysterious letter about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to federal authorities". cnbc.com. CNBC. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  27. ^ a b Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (September 16, 2018). "Kavanaugh's Nomination in Turmoil as Accuser Says He Assaulted Her Decades Ago". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  28. ^ Vernon, Pete (September 18, 2018). "Christine Blasey Ford, Brett Kavanaugh, and a nomination in limbo". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  29. ^ Stelter, Brian (September 16, 2018). "Post reporter says Kavanaugh accuser was 'terrified about going public'". CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  30. ^ Hurley, Lawrence (September 18, 2018). "Doubts arise over whether Trump court nominee's accuser will testify". Reuters. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  31. ^ "Woman who wrote letter accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault steps forward". CBS News. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  32. ^ Fram, Alan (September 17, 2018). "Hearing sets up dramatic showdown between Kavanaugh, accuser". WBRC. Associated Press. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  33. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (September 16, 2018). "Palo Alto woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct steps into spotlight". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  34. ^ "Brett Kavanaugh for SCOTUS: Senate to hold new hearing Monday on Kavanaugh sexual assault allegation". WSB-TV. Cox Media Group. September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  35. ^ Chamberlain, Samuel (September 17, 2018). "Sen. Orrin Hatch says Kavanaugh denied being at party described by accuser Ford". foxnews.com. Fox News. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  36. ^ Papenfuss, Mary (September 23, 2018). "Former Federal Prosecutor Joins Kavanaugh Accuser's Legal Team". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  37. ^ Axelrod, Tal (September 20, 2018). "Ford taps Obama, Clinton alum to navigate Senate hearing". The Hill.
  38. ^ Karni, Annie (September 20, 2018). "Kavanaugh accuser leans on Democratic operative for advice - Christine Blasey Ford is looking to Ricki Seidman, who helped prepare Anita Hill, to help her navigate a potential hearing". Politico.
  39. ^ Tatum, Sophie (September 18, 2018). "Ford wants FBI investigation before testifying". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  40. ^ Shoot, Brittany (September 19, 2018). "A GoFundMe for Kavanaugh Accuser Christine Blasey Ford's Private Security Met Its Goal in Just Hours". fortune.com. Fortune. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  41. ^ a b Cole, Devan (September 20, 2018). "Ford's family issues statement of support". CNN. Contributions by Eli Watkins, Gloria Borger, and Kate Sullivan. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  42. ^ Bach, Natasha (September 21, 2018). "Trump Swipes at Kavanaugh Accuser Christine Blasey Ford on Twitter". Fortune. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  43. ^ Foran, Clare; Acosta, Jim (September 21, 2018). "Susan Collins 'appalled' by Trump's tweet about Christine Blasey Ford". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  44. ^ Malloy, Allie (September 22, 2018). "Trump unleashes on Kavanaugh accuser". CNN. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  45. ^ Shabad, Rebecca (September 27, 2018). "What to know about the Brett Kavanaugh-Christine Blasey Ford Senate hearing". NBC News. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  46. ^ "Kavanaugh accuser Ford describes her alleged attackers' 'laughter' in gripping testimony". CNBC. September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  47. ^ "Kavanaugh, Ford hearing live blog: Supreme Court nominee and professor testify on sexual assault accusations". FOX News. September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  48. ^ "Brett Kavanaugh confirmation: Kavanaugh testifies following Ford's questioning on sex assault allegations - live updates". CBS. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  49. ^ Wallace-Wells, Benjamin (September 27, 2018). "The Formal Ping-Pong of the Questioning in the Kavanaugh-Ford Hearing". The New Yorker. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  50. ^ Detrow, Scott; Mak, Tim; Taylor, Jessica (September 28, 2018), "Trump Orders Limited FBI Investigation To Supplement Kavanaugh Background Check", NPR, retrieved September 28, 2018
  51. ^ Contrera, Jessica; Shapira, Ian; Brown, Emma; Hendrix, Steve (September 22, 2018). "Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford moved 3,000 miles to reinvent her life. It wasn't far enough". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
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