Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., denied Thursday that members of her staff leaked the details of a confidential letter from Christine Blasey Ford to her office, saying it’s possible Ford’s friends spoke to the press.
“I do not believe my staff would leak it,” Feinstein said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Ford testified before the panel about an allegation of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court.
Ford detailed the alleged incident involving Kavanaugh that she said occurred during the summer of 1982 in a letter to Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Feinstein that she asked to remain confidential.
But Ford said she decided to speak out about the allegation when reporters began appearing at her house and at her classroom.
Senate Republicans have accused Democrats or members of their staff for leaking Ford’s letter over her request for confidentiality.
But Feinstein said neither she nor her staff leaked the letter.
“I was asked to keep it confidential, and I’m criticized for that too,” Feinstein said.
She also noted that Ford testified earlier she shared the alleged assault with friends and said it’s “most likely” that’s how the media received information about Ford’s allegation.
“It did not leak from us,” Feinstein said. “I assure you of that.”
