Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of mishandling the accusation of attempted sexual assault lodged against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The Kentucky Republican said he backs a plan from Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to interview Kavanaugh and accuser Christine Blasey Ford about the matter that, so far, does not include a public hearing.
“I have great confidence in Chairman Grassley and his ability to proceed through this process,” McConnell said.
Grassley said he plans to organize separate bipartisan phone interviews with both Kavanaugh and Ford. Democrats are so far refusing to participate in the calls and are calling for an FBI investigation.
McConnell described the accusation as “36-year-old misconduct dating back to high school … brought forward at the last minute in an irregular manner.”
[Durbin: Kavanaugh accuser needs a public hearing, not phone calls]
Democrats, McConnell said, declined to bring up the accusation despite learning of it six weeks ago and having the opportunity to question Kavanaugh about it in public and private committee meetings a well as follow-up questions sent to the nominee.
“But now, at the 11th hour, with committee votes on schedule, after Democrats have spent weeks and weeks searching for any possible reason that the nomination should be delayed, now they choose to introduce this,” McConnell said, “by leaking it to the press.”
McConnell said he is “glad” Grassley is following the “standard practice and regular order.”
Grassley’s plan thus far does not include a public hearing, despite demands from some Democrats and, notably, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
