White House: Trump was 'stating facts', not mocking Ford

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The White House on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump's remarks which were accused of mocking Christine Blasey Ford, a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 1982.

The spokeswoman Sarah Sanders defended that Trump was merely "stating facts".

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders reacts during a briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, October 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

"No one is looking at whether the accusation has been corroborated," she said. "Every single bit of evidence and facts have supported Judge Kavanaugh."

Sanders called Ford's testimony "compelling," but said decisions must be made based on fact.

"Certainly the testimony by Dr. Ford was compelling, but you can't make this decision based on emotion, it has to be based on fact. They have to determine what the facts are of this case, that's one of the reasons they asked and begged for the FBI and delayed a hearing vote so they could get more facts on this case," she said.

Christine Blasey Ford closes her eyes as she is sworn in before testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, September 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

Sanders added Trump was not concerned the comments may have jeopardized the votes of key senators. "The president is very confident in his nominee," she said.

She also accused Senate Democrats of "literally trying to undercut the voice of the American people when they elected Donald Trump."

Asked whether Kavanaugh is a victim, she replied, "I think both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh are victims at the hands of the Democrats. I think it is absolutely disgraceful what they've done and exploiting this process. They've exploited Dr. Ford, they're exploiting all of the women that have come out to make any type of accusation," she said.

Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh testifies in front of the Senate Judiciary committee regarding sexual assault allegations at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, September 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

Speaking at a campaign rally Tuesday night in Mississippi, Trump mocked Ford's recollection of her alleged attack, while the crowd cheered and laughed.

"I had one beer!" Trump said, mimicking Ford. "How did you get there? I don't remember. How did you get home? I don't remember," he said, alternating the inflections. "Where is the place? I don't remember. How many years ago was it? I don't know... But I only had one beer! That's all I remember."

"And a man's life is in tatters," Trump added.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a "Make America Great Again" rally at Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, October 2, 2018. /VCG Photo

FBI's report on sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh headed to the US Senate late on Wednesday and the Senate expects to receive the report either late on Wednesday or early on Thursday.

Senators have been granted access to review the report during the day on Thursday and the report's conclusions is still unknown.

(With inputs from agencies)