The chief counsel for nominations for Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Thursday that lawyers for the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault haven’t made time to talk to Senate staff, even though they seem to be making time for media appearances.
“I personally questioned Judge Kavanaugh under penalty of felony and 5 years of imprisonment, if he lies. I’m still waiting to hear back from the accuser’s attorneys, who can’t find time between TV appearances to get back to me,” Mike Davis posted in a since-deleted Thursday morning tweet.
After receiving backlash for his tweet, Davis took it down and clarified that he was criticizing Democrats, and not Kavanaugh’s accuser, for playing partisan politics over Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
“To clear up any confusion, I was referring to Democrat’s partisan political attacks and their refusal to take part in the committee’s thorough and fair investigation,” Davis tweeted later Thursday. “I deleted the tweet to avoid any further misinterpretation by left wing media as so often happens on Twitter.”
To clear up any confusion, I was referring to Democrats’ partisan political attacks and their refusal to take part in the committee’s thorough and fair investigation. I deleted the tweet to avoid any further misinterpretation by left wing media as so often happens on Twitter.
— Mike Davis (@mrddmia) September 20, 2018
Grassley informed Christine Blasey Ford’s lawyers that if she wishes to testify before the Judiciary Committee on Monday regarding her allegations, she must submit prepared testimony to the panel by Friday morning.
Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a high school party 36 years ago. Kavanaugh denied the allegations.
Both Kavanaugh and Ford this week indicated their willingness to testify before the committee about the allegations. However, Ford’s lawyers sent a letter to Grassley Tuesday saying that their client would not appear before the panel until the FBI fully investigated the incident.
Grassley said the invitation to testify Monday is still open.
Ford went to media and lawmakers with her story earlier this summer, but did not go public with the allegations until just days before the committee was scheduled to vote to move forward on Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
