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GOP senators wanted a prosecutor to question Dr. Ford. They got a ‘cruel’ hearing.

The format set up by Republicans made for an awkward and stilted inquisition.

Rachel Mitchell (R), a prosecutor from Arizona, asks questions to Christine Blasey Ford (L), the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a party 36 years ago, before the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, September 27, 2018. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP)        (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Rachel Mitchell (R), a prosecutor from Arizona, asks questions to Christine Blasey Ford (L), the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a party 36 years ago, before the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, September 27, 2018. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Republican senators hired an outside prosecutor to question Dr. Christine Blasey Ford on Thursday, despite her request that the GOP lawmakers do the job themselves. In their effort to avoid the uncomfortable task of questioning a sympathetic and credible woman witness, the all-male lawmakers instead created what many called a “cruel format” for a hearing.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the chair of the committee, decided to give each senator just five minutes for their questions, which were posed by a woman prosecutor, Arizona attorney Rachel Mitchell. Her lines of inquiry were repeatedly interrupted however, because of the brief amount of time she had to question Ford.

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Ford has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of attempted rape during a party when they were both in high school.

During Mitchell’s first series of questions, Grassley interrupted her to move the hearing along. “Because I don’t — we have to — I’ve got to treat everybody the same,” he said, stumbling. “Can I go to Senator Feinstein?”

While Mitchell focused on details of the alleged assault, referring to text message threads and maps, Democratic senators thanked Dr. Ford for testifying and allowed her time to speak about the emotional and traumatic impact.

The contrast did not go unnoticed.

Prosecutors typically use cross examinations to establish a rhythm with a witness, building up from seemingly innocuous questions and using that momentum to attempt to ask more challenging questions that may catch the witness off guard. But with the five minute interruptions, Mitchell was not able to establish any kind of rhythm.

During the first break in the hearing, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), one of just 21 women in the Senate, called the process and the use of the prosecutor “outrageous” and “unfair.”