Maricopa County prosecutor Rachel Mitchell (Photo: Screen capture)
Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell went down in flames trying to cross-examine Dr. Christine Blasey Ford making Republicans look even worse when contrasted with sympathetic Democratic senators.
The internet responded to the line of questioning and the differences between the two sides with their own attacks of Mitchell calling her everything from a bad prosecutor to heartless.
One attorney and blogger noted it was an "atrocious examination," watching Mitchell argue that Dr. Ford isn't credible because she flies even though she doesn't like to.
JFC, Mitchell arguing that Ford not credible because she occasionally flies even though she hates doing so. This is… https://t.co/QhVsABgYav— bmaz (@bmaz) 1538064419.0
Businesswoman and podcaster Aminatou Sow noted that she too is similarly fearful of flying, but noted she's approaching a high level in her frequent flyer program.
She agreed it was making the GOP look even worse.
ProPublica reporter Pamela Colloff noted that the questioning surrounding Dr. Ford's mental health was "ugly" and "shameful."
Freelance reporter and editor Kaz Weida agreed, calling the attempt to undermine Dr. Ford's mental health "insulting."
Rachel Mitchell questioning Dr. Blasey Ford about her mental health is not okay here. And trying to undermine that… https://t.co/FeveiZyJoK— Kaz Weida (@Kaz Weida) 1538064377.0
Members of Congress similarly commented, noting Mitchell came off as unsympathetic.
I feel like Rachel Mitchell is trying to catch Dr. Blasey Ford in some contradiction and to make it a technical con… https://t.co/OTxnIf5Lzk— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1538061089.0
Mitchell is doing a good job of cross examining gently, but it is still disgusting. The witness is NOT on trial.… https://t.co/jX6Eksf1qW— Jackie Speier (@Jackie Speier) 1538061212.0
Why are any of Rachel Mitchell’s questions relevant? She just wants to poke holes in testimony. She is not really i… https://t.co/4qPJdkWBnp— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@Rep. Pramila Jayapal) 1538061744.0
Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell is asking questions to verify statements and establish facts — like where… https://t.co/Xj7AmATbgv— Maya Wiley (@Maya Wiley) 1538062131.0
You can read other tweets below:
Increasingly, it’s clear that Republican leadership simply does not believe that anyone matters outside of their ba… https://t.co/ZOiaXUwhXy— Amanda Marcotte (@Amanda Marcotte) 1538065387.0
My quick take at this #KavanaughHearings break. Mitchell is taking her time in laying the groundwork...for what? To… https://t.co/dqlq7e6krM— Lynn Sweet (@Lynn Sweet) 1538063116.0
Rachel Mitchell is now directing questions to Dr. Ford that don't directly relate to the sexual assault. Why can't… https://t.co/r906D8fzqQ— Ted Corcoran (RedTRaccoon) (@Ted Corcoran (RedTRaccoon)) 1538065045.0
I JUST PREDICTED THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING. “You’ve flown before, haven’t you?” This is INSANE. Rachel Mitchell shou… https://t.co/TPpO7XLW72— Eliza Orlins (@Eliza Orlins) 1538064411.0
Mitchell is clearly being careful with her tone -- trying to keep things conversational and soft when possible. But… https://t.co/Jj3zyoopCn— MJ Lee (@MJ Lee) 1538064641.0
It is starting to appear as if Rachel Mitchell is trying to cross-examine Professor Ford, but none of this is very… https://t.co/IgMrK1HocP— Renato Mariotti (@Renato Mariotti) 1538064471.0
Wow the prosecutor is trying to find out if Dr Ford had other traumas in her life that contributed to her PTSD... t… https://t.co/TENvS0I8BR— Ayman Mohyeldin (@Ayman Mohyeldin) 1538064503.0
Prosecutor Mitchell: Are you lying about not wanting to fly? Ford: I don't like flying. Prosecutor Mitchell: Look… https://t.co/3gAYlaAQU0— Elie Mystal (@Elie Mystal) 1538064561.0
The fact that Dr. Ford didn't try to defend her fear of flying or justify it is very telling. She stuck to answerin… https://t.co/eA3wwIFO2O— Amee Vanderpool (@Amee Vanderpool) 1538065346.0
Mitchell now suggesting there are other things that contributed to Ford's anxiety and PTSD. Ford gets all scienti… https://t.co/7uzs9mg4CK— Dr. emptywheel (@Dr. emptywheel) 1538064189.0
Live footage of Rachel Mitchell cross examining Dr. Blasey Ford. #KavanaughHearings https://t.co/dpeCCkR4gr— Kaz Weida (@Kaz Weida) 1538063059.0
Is it me or did the @SenateGOP pick Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell out of central casting? #KavanaughHearings https://t.co/n3zLUWG0Uw— Fernand R. Amandi (@Fernand R. Amandi) 1538066816.0
Rachel Mitchell - the GOP's very own Aunt Lydia https://t.co/bZZQn5149D— Claudia Lamb (@Claudia Lamb) 1538061193.0
It’s fitting that the Republican members of the committee have hired the The Church Lady to do their questioning. M… https://t.co/K6s3cxoEUL— Joey Jo Jo (@Joey Jo Jo) 1538062195.0
Guys, I don’t think Rachel Mitchell is going to get confirmed.— The Hoarse Whisperer (@The Hoarse Whisperer) 1538067002.0
Rachel Mitchell is striking out repeatedly.— Cheri Jacobus (@Cheri Jacobus) 1538065872.0
Mitchell questioning Ford if she was coached on her polygraph. A polygraph that Kavanaugh has not taken and has never offered to take— Laura Rozen (@Laura Rozen) 1538066436.0
#KavanaughHearings GOP might want to get their money back Mitchell is only humanizing Dr. Ford with her failed in… https://t.co/7wcX3l6XN3— Shawn in Az🌵 (@Shawn in Az🌵) 1538066618.0
#KavanaughHearings Mitchell is well past her time Grassley was heard in the background saying "stop the clock ple… https://t.co/rlArDzRp78— Shawn in Az🌵 (@Shawn in Az🌵) 1538065724.0
Holy shit the question about the location about the polygraph backfired in ways no one saw coming. Please end thi… https://t.co/PN76qjUkef— Benjamin Dixon (@Benjamin Dixon) 1538066413.0
If Rachel Mitchell had any decency, during this lunch break, she'd pack up and leave the Capitol— Joe Sudbay (@Joe Sudbay) 1538066583.0
#KavanaughHearings Rachel Mitchell is pulling out the maps. I’m so embarrassed for this country... https://t.co/L8WHCFYi9i— Jean Podrasky (@Jean Podrasky) 1538063780.0
Mitchell is cross-examining Dr. Ford about her fear of flying and Mitchell is an incompetent monster. She just trie… https://t.co/hk1cDGPN4f— Matthew Cortland, Esq 🖋️ (@Matthew Cortland, Esq 🖋️) 1538064437.0
Omg from Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell: “the word contributed, does that mean that there are also things that have hap… https://t.co/HQxECrdQar— Sara El-Amine (@Sara El-Amine) 1538064298.0
Person close to Trump says Trump is raging at how bad this has been for Republicans so far. Trump told people Ford… https://t.co/8n4RFxrziZ— Gabriel Sherman (@Gabriel Sherman) 1538064792.0
