Donald Trump's efforts to make the US Supreme Court more conservative hangs in the balance after an extraordinary congressional hearing. A university professor who claims she was sexually assaulted by Trump's nominee when they were teenagers detailed the attack before lawmakers. They now have to decide whether to confirm him in the face of huge public opposition galvanized by the Metoo movement. CGTN's Owen Fairclough has more.

Christine Blasey Ford reliving the moment she was allegedly sexually assaulted by Brett Kavanaugh at a high school party.

PROF. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD PALO ALTO UNIVERSITY "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 was 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."

Ford spoke out 36 years after the alleged attack when she learned Kavanaugh was on President Donald Trump's shortlist to become the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice. And in this polarised US political climate, she's already suffered the backlash.

PROF. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD PALO ALTO UNIVERSITY "My family and I have been the target of constant harassment and death threats. I have been called the most vile and hateful names imaginable."

Kavanaugh had repeatedly denied the allegations but this was his most vocal yet.

BRETT KAVANAUGH US SUPREME COURT NOMINEE "My family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed by vicious and false additional accusations. And the truth is that I have never sexually assaulted anyone-not in high school, not in college, not ever."

Just weeks ago, Trump was on course to put move the Supreme Court further to the right with Kavanaugh, his second conservative nominee, who claims opponents are trying to settle old scores.

And with only a slim majority Republican Senators must now prevent any dissenters from derailing Kavanaugh's confirmation. But they face growing opposition galvanized by the Metoo movement and an ongoing public reckoning between public figures and allegations from their past that goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. OFA, CGTN, Washington.