Brett Kavanaugh's fate in the balance as sex assault accuser appeals for more time amid 'death threats'

The university professor who has accused Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault says she needs more time to decide if she will testify in Congress — as his fate continues to hang in the balance.

Christine Blasey Ford says she has faced death threats and “vicious harassment” after making her allegation against Brett Kavanaugh . Republicans on the Senate judiciary committee have a set a deadline of 10am tomorrow for her to confirm whether she will appear on Monday — but a lawyer for Professor Ford said she should not be rushed.

Lisa Banks said: “The rush to a hearing is unnecessary, and contrary to the committee discovering the truth. Dr Ford was reluctantly thrust into the public spotlight only two days ago. Fairness and respect for her situation dictate she should have time to deal with this.”

She said plans to call just Mr Kavanaugh and her client as witnesses was “not a fair or good-faith investigation” and “multiple witnesses” should be called.

Professor Ford claims the judge assaulted her at a house party in 1982 when she was 15 and he was 17. He calls the allegation “completely false”.

Now a psychology lecturer in California, she says she has had to leave her home after death threats. She wants the FBI to investigate the allegation before a hearing takes place.

But Mr Trump and Senate Republicans insist an FBI renewal of background checks on Mr Kavanaugh will not happen, saying an inquiry by committee staff is enough.

They are eager to push through the conservative judge’s nomination before November’s mid-term elections.

Yesterday committee chairman Chuck Grassley wrote to Professor Ford’s lawyer giving her until 10am tomorrow to submit a biography and statement “if she intends to testify” on Monday.

Professor Ford, 51, claimed that at the party Mr Kavanaugh, now 53, pinned her to a bed and put his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming, before she broke free. Mr Trump stood by him yes-terday, saying it was “very hard for me to imagine anything happened”, adding: “I want to see what she has to say.”

He spoke after visiting the Carolinas where 37 people were killed when Hurricane Florence struck. He faced ridicule on social media for describing the storm as “one of the wettest we’ve ever seen from the standpoint of water”.

Visiting storm victims in New Bern, North Carolina, the president also made bizarre remarks to residents.

Speaking to a man whose home was wrecked after a large yacht washed ashore and landed on his wooden porch, he reportedly said: “At least you got a nice boat out of the deal.”