Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who remains undecided on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, called on a woman accusing him of sexual assault to show up at a hearing planned to air her complaint.
Collins said in a tweet she wants Christine Blasey Ford to change her decision not to come to a Judiciary Committee hearing about her complaint that had been scheduled for Monday.
“I hope that Dr. Ford will reconsider and testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday,” Collins said. “It is my understanding that the Committee has offered to hold either a public or a private session, whichever would make her more comfortable.”
Ford, through her lawyer, said she won’t testify until an FBI probe of the incident is completed.
[Related: Hillary Clinton stands by Kavanaugh accuser: FBI investigation a ‘reasonable request’]
Republicans say the FBI already finished a background check and does not have jurisdiction over investigating the incident claimed by Ford which allegedly occurred 36 years ago. Ford told the Washington Post that Kavanaugh pinned her down and tried to sexually assault her at a party while they were in high school. He denies it, as do two male friends who Ford said were at the party.
Grassley is now trying to find some way to interview Ford about the incident.
Collins could be a deciding vote in the Kavanaugh confirmation as one of two moderate anti-abortion, female Republican lawmakers.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska., told reporters she wants Kavanaugh and Ford to testify under oath about the matter.
