Senate Judiciary Committee lawmakers are “no closer to hearing” from the woman who accused Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her more than 30 years ago, according to a senior Republican.
Chairman Chuck Grassley gave Christine Blasey Ford a 2:30 p.m. Saturday deadline to accept his invitation to appear before the committee next Wednesday, following days of back-and-forth over the timing and conditions under which she might discuss her allegation about Kavanaugh. Her legal team accepted the invitation, but made clear they still want to negotiate the terms, drawing complaints from Republicans.
“[T]his is exactly where we were on Monday morning,” Sen. Orrin Hatch’s team tweeted in response. “[W]ithout agreeing to a date, time and terms we are no closer to hearing from Dr Ford [than] we were when her lawyers said Dr. Ford was willing to testify during their media tour [ . . .] six days ago.”
Grassley said Friday that he would proceed with a vote to advance Kavanaugh’s nomination out of committee on Monday if Ford declined to appear at a Wednesday hearing. The Supreme Court begins a new session on Oct. 1. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., received a letter detailing Ford’s allegation against Kavanaugh in July, but didn’t announce it until Sept. 12, after his formal confirmation hearing had concluded.
Ford, a California professor, initially wanted to remain anonymous, but came forward last weekend after her letter was leaked to media. She alleges that Kavanaugh held her down on a bed, groped her, and tried to undress her during a house party in Maryland when the two were both teenagers. Kavanaugh denies the allegation.
“After 5 days of delays, days in between replies as the lawyers continued countless media appearances, the committee requested response by 5 PM yesterday,” Hatch’s team tweeted. “They then extended to 10 PM Then they extended again until 2:30 today Further delay is strong signal this is about politics.”
But Republicans only have a one-vote majority on the Judiciary Committee, so he would need to be sure of unanimous Republican support to win a vote Monday. Retiring Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake previously said that the vote should be delayed until after she testified. He responded to the latest news from Ford more favorably than Hatch’s team.
“Progress on a Judiciary Committee hearing is being made,” Flake tweeted. “This is good.”
