US President Donald Trump is facing criticism from fellow Republicans after he mocked a woman who says she was assaulted by his Supreme Court nominee.
Senators Jeff Flake and Susan Collins, both key votes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, called Mr. Trump’s remarks “appalling” and “just plain wrong.”
At a rally, Mr. Trump poked fun at Christine Blasey Ford for not recalling key details of the alleged assault.
Last week the Republican president called her a “very credible witness.”
If approved, Judge Kavanaugh, 53, would be expected to tilt the ideological balance of the Supreme Court in favour of conservatives.
Its nine justices are appointed for life and have the final say on some of the most contentious issues in US public life, from abortion, to gun control, to voting laws.
Mr. Flake – who helped spur the FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh – told NBC’s Today show: “There’s no time and no place for remarks like that.
“To discuss something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right. It’s just not right. I wish he hadn’t had done it.”
The Arizona senator is a closely watched swing vote as Republicans can potentially only afford one defection if they are to confirm their nominee.
Ms. Collins, a moderate Republican from Maine, told reporters on Wednesday: “The president’s comments were just plain wrong.”
She has not yet said whether she will vote for Judge Kavanaugh either.
Later on Wednesday, moderate Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski joined in the criticism, saying Mr. Trump’s speech was “wholly inappropriate” and “unacceptable.”
“I am taking everything into account,” Senator Murkowski said when asked by reporters if it may affect her vote.
Prof Ford’s lawyer, Michael Bromwich, described Mr. Trump’s words as “a vicious, vile and soulless attack” on her.
“Is it any wonder that she was terrified to come forward, and that other sexual assault survivors are as well?” he added.
READ ALSO: Rédoine Faïd: French gangster recaptured three months after jailbreak
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday denounced Mr. Trump’s “outright mockery of a sexual assault survivour.”
South Carolina: Seven officers shot, suspect in custody
Seven US law enforcement officers have been shot, one of them fatally, in an incident in South Carolina, officials say.
Police in the city of Florence had been responding to a call for help from the sheriff’s office.
A gunman had been holding children hostage and was involved in a two-hour stand-off before surrendering and taken to hospital.
He has not been identified and the motive is unclear.
US President Donald Trump has tweeted about the shooting, quoting South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.
The Officer Down Memorial Page lists the names of 23,408 US police officers killed in the line of duty – 112 so far this year.
Over 15,000 people have been killed by guns in the United States in 2017, according to a list compiled by tracking website Gun Violence Archive.
That figure does not include an estimated 22,000 annual suicides using firearms.
