Hearing runs hot with partisan anger

Trump backs his Supreme Court pick after Senate showdown

WASHINGTON - A hearing for US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh devolved into a partisan fistfight on Thursday as Democrats and Republicans and Kavanaugh himself sparred over explosive allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted an acquaintance while both were teenagers.

The almost nine hours of intensely emotional testimony came against the backdrop of the#MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault and had millions of US citizens riveted to their TV screens and smartphones.