Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley announced Thursday night that he asked Arizona county sex crimes prosecutor, Rachel Mitchell, to question Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser this week.
Mitchell is a sex crimes bureau chief for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, Ariz., and is the GOP’s choice to question Christine Blasey Ford in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in Thursday’s hearing.
“The goal is to de-politicize the process and get to the truth, instead of grandstanding and giving senators an opportunity to launch their presidential campaigns,” Grassley said in a statement Thursday night. “I’m very appreciative that Rachel Mitchell has stepped forward to serve in this important and serious role.”
Grassley news release just now pic.twitter.com/MV0oltkvqf
— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) September 26, 2018
Ford alleges that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school gathering 36 years ago. Kavanaugh denies the allegations. He and Ford will both testify before the panel regarding the alleged incident later this week.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said earlier in the day Tuesday that a female assistant was hired to ask questions in a respectful and professional manner.
