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| Kavanaugh accuser wants an FBI investigation before she testifies | Kavanaugh accuser wants an FBI investigation before she testifies |
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| Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, said in a letter that the FBI should investigate her claims as a “first step” before she testifies in front of the Senate Judiciary committee. | Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, said in a letter that the FBI should investigate her claims as a “first step” before she testifies in front of the Senate Judiciary committee. |
| The two-page letter from her attorneys to committee chairman Chuck Grassley potentially upends plans for an extraordinary public hearing set for Monday, which could determine the fate of Kavanaugh’s nomination. | |
| Though it does not explicitly state whether Ford would appear before the Senate Judiciary committee on Monday, the letter raises concerns that she would face “interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is ‘mistaken’ and ‘mixed up’”. | |
| In the letter, which was obtained by the Guardian, Ford’s attorneys argue that only “a full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions”. | |
| Blasey, a research psychologist at Palo Alto University in northern California, has accused the judge of sexually assaulting her more than 30 years ago, at a high school party when both were teenagers. Kavanaugh has categorically denied the accusations. | Blasey, a research psychologist at Palo Alto University in northern California, has accused the judge of sexually assaulting her more than 30 years ago, at a high school party when both were teenagers. Kavanaugh has categorically denied the accusations. |
| Grassley set a public hearing for next Monday at which Kavanaugh and Ford were invited to testify. | |
| Republicans, already incensed that Kavanaugh’s confirmation has been delayed by allegations that they say were “kept secret until the 11th hour”, appeared unwilling to negotiate on the timeline or scope of the hearing. They said repeatedly that Monday was Ford’s opportunity to tell her story, either in public or in private, and that if she declined to appear, they would move forward with a vote to advance his nomination by the end of the week. | |
| The letter said Ford had been inundated by “vicious harassment and even death threats” since she shared her story publicly in the Washington Post on Sunday. | |
| “As a result of these kind of threats, her family was forced to relocate out of their home,” her lawyers wrote. “Her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online.” | |
| In the letter, the attorneys describe a scenario in which Ford would testify “at the same table” as Kavanaugh, a claim that a spokesman for Grassley said is unfounded and was never the plan. | |
| Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member of the committee, who has pushed Republicans to allow time for an investigation before holding a public hearing said she agreed with Ford “100 percent” and said senators should “honor” Ford’s wishes and grant a delay. | Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member of the committee, who has pushed Republicans to allow time for an investigation before holding a public hearing said she agreed with Ford “100 percent” and said senators should “honor” Ford’s wishes and grant a delay. |
| “I agree with her 100 percent that the rushed process to hold a hearing on Monday has been unfair and is reminiscent of the treatment of Anita Hill,” Feinstein said, referring to the woman who accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his supreme court confirmation hearing in 1991. | “I agree with her 100 percent that the rushed process to hold a hearing on Monday has been unfair and is reminiscent of the treatment of Anita Hill,” Feinstein said, referring to the woman who accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his supreme court confirmation hearing in 1991. |
| Feinstein added: “We should honor Dr Blasey Ford’s wishes and delay this hearing. A proper investigation must be completed, witnesses interviewed, evidence reviewed and all sides spoken to. Only then should the chairman set a hearing date.” | Feinstein added: “We should honor Dr Blasey Ford’s wishes and delay this hearing. A proper investigation must be completed, witnesses interviewed, evidence reviewed and all sides spoken to. Only then should the chairman set a hearing date.” |
| The letter comes as Democrats and Republicans clash fiercely over the terms of Monday’s hearing. Grassley has said Kavanaugh and Ford will be the only witnesses, prompting pushback from Democrats who demand an FBI investigation first and believe more witnesses and experts should be called to testify. | The letter comes as Democrats and Republicans clash fiercely over the terms of Monday’s hearing. Grassley has said Kavanaugh and Ford will be the only witnesses, prompting pushback from Democrats who demand an FBI investigation first and believe more witnesses and experts should be called to testify. |
| Republicans have already rejected calls for the FBI to reopen an investigation into Kavanaugh’s background and interrogate the allegations. | Republicans have already rejected calls for the FBI to reopen an investigation into Kavanaugh’s background and interrogate the allegations. |
| “The FBI investigation of judge Kavanaugh is closed,” Grassley told conservative commentor Hugh Hewitt on his radio show on Tuesday. “The FBI is not doing any further investigation.” | “The FBI investigation of judge Kavanaugh is closed,” Grassley told conservative commentor Hugh Hewitt on his radio show on Tuesday. “The FBI is not doing any further investigation.” |
| Senator Orrin Hatch, a senior Republican on the committee, said in a tweet on Tuesday night: “The FBI does not do investigations like this. The responsibility falls to us.” He concluded: “We should proceed as planned.” | Senator Orrin Hatch, a senior Republican on the committee, said in a tweet on Tuesday night: “The FBI does not do investigations like this. The responsibility falls to us.” He concluded: “We should proceed as planned.” |
| Hatch, who was on the committee for the Anita Hill hearings, was promptly reminded by others on Twitter that the FBI had investigated her claims against then Supreme Court nominee Thomas. | |
| Trump said earlier Tuesday that Kavanaugh was “anxious” to testify. “I don’t know about the other party,” he told reporters at the White House. | Trump said earlier Tuesday that Kavanaugh was “anxious” to testify. “I don’t know about the other party,” he told reporters at the White House. |
| The judge has reportedly spent the day prepping for the hearing by running through possible questions the senators may pose. | The judge has reportedly spent the day prepping for the hearing by running through possible questions the senators may pose. |
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