Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser will get more time to decide.
In a series of late-night tweets, Sen. Chuck Grassley announced he has pushed back the deadline for Christine Blasey Ford, who alleges Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her more than 30 years ago, to make a decision on whether she will testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The committee chairman said that if Ford has changed her mind, to let the committee know so they can move on, but insisted he wants to hear from Ford. Grassley had earlier scheduled a vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination for Monday and said he would move the vote if Ford decided to testify.
Five times now we hv granted extension for Dr Ford to decide if she wants to proceed w her desire stated one wk ago that she wants to tell senate her story Dr Ford if u changed ur mind say so so we can move on I want to hear ur testimony. Come to us or we to u
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 22, 2018
Ford has alleged Kavanaugh forced himself on her and tried to remove her clothing while they were at a party. Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the allegation and has said he is eager to testify and clear his name.
Grassley and Ford’s lawyers have been negotiating over possible testimony next week. Grassley originally invited Ford to appear Monday in front of the committee, but Ford’s lawyers said that was not feasible.
The Iowa Republican also apologized to Kavanaugh in a tweet, saying it was not his normal approach to be indecisive.
“I want to hear her,” he tweeted.
Judge Kavanaugh I just granted another extension to Dr Ford to decide if she wants to proceed w the statement she made last week to testify to the senate She shld decide so we can move on I want to hear her. I hope u understand. It’s not my normal approach to b indecisive
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 22, 2018
Grassley was responding to a note from Ford’s attorney shortly before the previous 10 p.m. Friday deadline. Debra Katz said her client wanted another day to decide, and ripped the committee for what she called “aggressive and artificial deadlines.”
“Your cavalier treatment of a sexual assault survivor who has been doing her best to cooperate with the Committee is completely inappropriate,” the email said. “The 10:00 p.m. deadline is arbitrary. Its sole purpose is to bully Dr. Ford and deprive her of the ability to make a considered decision that has life-altering implications for her and her family.”
Grassley had initially given Ford a deadline of 10 a.m. Friday, which was pushed back to 5 p.m. and then to 10 p.m. Grassley commented on the changes during his series of late Friday tweets, though he did not impose a new deadline or say if he would shift the committee’s vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination.
With all the extensions we give Dr Ford to decide if she still wants to testify to the Senate I feel like I’m playing 2nd trombone in the judiciary orchestra and Schumer is the conductor
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 22, 2018
