Senate Republicans Tuesday night and Wednesday morning showed they were unwilling to negotiate the terms of the public hearing next Monday to which they invited Christine Blasey Ford, the professor who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.
With the risk that further delay could imperil the Kavanaugh nomination, GOP senators fought to make Monday the drop-dead deadline for addressing the Blasey Ford accusation, insisting that it’s time to move on with or without her testimony.
Tuesday night, Blasey Ford’s attorneys sent the Senate Judiciary Committee a letter asking for a FBI investigation into her allegations before she testified in front of the committee. GOP senators responded by suggesting that Blasey Ford’s one option was to appear next Monday at the hearing, where Kavanaugh would also testify, and that she was turning down their “good faith” offer to hear her out.
“We’ve offered Dr. Ford the opportunity to share her story with the committee, as her attorney said yesterday she was willing to do. We offered her a public or a private hearing as well as staff-led interviews, whichever makes her most comfortable. The invitation for Monday still stands,” Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said in a statement Tuesday night. “Dr. Ford’s testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.”
President Trump, who could order an FBI background check investigation into the allegations, instead put the onus on Blasey Ford to testify.
“If she shows up, that would be wonderful. If she doesn’t show up, that would be unfortunate,” Trump told reporters Wednesday morning.
After learning of the allegation, Chairman @ChuckGrassley took immediate action to ensure both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh have the opportunity to be heard, in public or private. Republicans extended a hand in good faith. If we don’t hear from both sides on Monday, let’s vote.
— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) September 19, 2018
Requiring an FBI investigation of a 36 year old allegation (without specific references to time or location) before Professor Ford will appear before the Judiciary Committee is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 19, 2018
It is imperative the Judiciary committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination and a committee vote be taken ASAP.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 19, 2018
Even Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) — who, after Blasey Ford went public on Sunday, called for a pause in the confirmation process for her allegations to be heard — urged her Tuesday night to simply “accept the invitation for Monday” for either a public or private hearing.
When Dr. Ford came forward, I said that her voice should be heard and asked the Judiciary Committee to delay its vote on Judge Kavanaugh. It did so. I now implore Dr. Ford to accept the invitation for Monday, in a public or private setting. The committee should hear her voice.
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) September 19, 2018
While noting on CNN that Blasey Ford also has the option of testifying privately next Monday, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) emphasized that she, through her lawyer, had asked for a public hearing earlier this week.
“Last night, I understand she changed her mind. But I think there’s a reasonable possibility she’ll change her mind, yet again,” Kennedy said, stressing that he’s prepared to attend the hearing Monday. “Now, if she doesn’t want to come, that’s her call. If she’s uncomfortable doing it in a public hearing, I think it would be a mistake. I think the American people need to hear from both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh and be able to judge for themselves.”
Baaaad Faith. Bad faith!
Nothing more to say.
Rock, paper, scissors.
The Rs have shown their play. It’s a bluff, since it depends on her credibility against his. Why is that a bluff?
Because she can testify not only to what happened, and to the damage Kavanaugh did to her, but also to the Republican majority’s refusal to call Mark Judge, or to insist that the other two individuals whom she named be questioned about their recollections: did they know Kavanaugh? Judge? Did they know her? Do they recall Kavanaugh and Judge drinking to excess?
And so on.
The killer question from Ford to the Rs: “I’m here, Mr. Chairman. Ask me whatever you want. I’m not afraid anymore. What are you afraid of, that you won’t call Mark Judge to testify under oath?”
Her position is collapsing. She has one thing and one thing only - her righteous anger at the “molestation” by person unknown 35 years ago.
If she does not testify, she loses. If she testifies in private, she loses.
She wanted a public hearing. She’s going to get a public hearing and it will involve uncomfortable questions for her. “Dr. Ford, you were 15. Why were you at a party with drinks? Did you Mother drive you there? Did you drink? Did you do drugs?”
That kind of thing. But since she went to an exclusive all-girls boarding school with other rich girls, she will be able to address those questions easily.
Okay. Senator Feinstein, you wouldn’t happen to know just who it was that paid off Mr. Kavanaugh’s gambling debt, mortgage, country club fees and credit cards, would you? You do? Please tell us.
ETA: Vladimir Putin-aligned oligarchs, eh?
It’s not a boarding school.