The Senate Judiciary Committee will reportedly give Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the woman accusing him of sexual misconduct a chance to address the allegation publicly next week.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told reporters on Capitol Hill on Monday the federal appeals court judge and Christine Blasey Ford are expected to be invited to a public hearing.
“There will be a full opportunity for the accuser and the accused to be heard — in public,” Kennedy said, according to CNN.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, told the Washington Post the hearing is set to take place next Monday, delaying the panel’s vote on Kavanaugh’s candidacy for the Supreme Court.
Staff for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner‘s request for comment. A spokesman for Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the development was “news” to her team.
The White House released a statement shortly after Kennedy’s remarks indicating that Kavanaugh embraced the idea of a platform to “clear his name of this false allegation.”
“He stands ready to testify tomorrow if the Senate is ready to hear him,” White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah said.
[White House: Kavanaugh ready to testify, wants to ‘clear his name of this false allegation’]
