Kavanaugh's #MeToo accuser has come forward

The previously unidentified woman who alleged in a confidential letter sent to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in July that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school in the 1980s came forward in a Washington Post story Sunday.

Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University, alleges Kavanaugh held her down on a bed and groped her, attempting to forcibly undress her. She says she was worried he might "inadvertently kill" her as he allegedly covered her mouth with his hand to stop her from screaming. The alleged assault was interrupted by another teenage boy, which enabled her to escape.

Ford did not tell anyone about the incident until she was in couple's therapy in 2012. The Post reviewed her therapist's notes from the time, and they describe her attacker as someone "from an elitist boys' school" who is now among "highly respected and high-ranking members of society in Washington." Ford's husband, Russell Ford, says he remembers hearing Kavanaugh's name in the therapy sessions.

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In addition to contacting Feinstein in July, Ford also reached out to the Post . However, the paper reports, she declined to comment on the record at that time. Ford decided to reveal her identity after news of her letter to Feinstein leaked. Reports included inaccurate or incomplete information, she says, and reporters attempted to contact her. "These are all the ills that I was trying to avoid," she said. "Now I feel like my civic responsibility is outweighing my anguish and terror about retaliation."

Kavanaugh has denied all accusations. "I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time," he said when the story first broke. Neither Kavanaugh nor the White House offered the Post further comment.

Read the full story here.