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| Brett Kavanaugh: Senate sets deadline for accuser testimony | Brett Kavanaugh: Senate sets deadline for accuser testimony |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Senate has given a woman who accuses Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault until Friday to decide if she will testify. | The Senate has given a woman who accuses Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault until Friday to decide if she will testify. |
| Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley sent a letter setting the 21 September deadline to Christine Blasey Ford's lawyers. | Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley sent a letter setting the 21 September deadline to Christine Blasey Ford's lawyers. |
| Judge Kavanaugh, 53, has firmly denied the allegation. He has been meeting with White House officials this week. | Judge Kavanaugh, 53, has firmly denied the allegation. He has been meeting with White House officials this week. |
| Prof Ford declined to testify unless the FBI begins investigating the judge. | Prof Ford declined to testify unless the FBI begins investigating the judge. |
| Her lawyers said on Tuesday that Prof Ford is receiving death threats since alleging Judge Kavanaugh attempted to rape her. | Her lawyers said on Tuesday that Prof Ford is receiving death threats since alleging Judge Kavanaugh attempted to rape her. |
| The Senate Judiciary Committee has called on both Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford to testify - either publicly or in a closed-door session - next Monday. | The Senate Judiciary Committee has called on both Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford to testify - either publicly or in a closed-door session - next Monday. |
| Prof Ford's legal team has declined the Senate's offer to testify. | Prof Ford's legal team has declined the Senate's offer to testify. |
| Why is the Senate setting a deadline? | Why is the Senate setting a deadline? |
| Her lawyer said that before her client goes to Congress, she wants an FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh. | Her lawyer said that before her client goes to Congress, she wants an FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh. |
| But in his letter to her legal team, Mr Grassley said "it is not the FBI's role to investigate a matter such as this". | But in his letter to her legal team, Mr Grassley said "it is not the FBI's role to investigate a matter such as this". |
| "I have reopened the hearing because I believe that anyone who comes forward with allegations of sexual assault has a right to be heard, and because it is the Committee's responsibility to fully evaluate the fitness of a nominee to the Supreme Court," the Iowa Republican wrote. | "I have reopened the hearing because I believe that anyone who comes forward with allegations of sexual assault has a right to be heard, and because it is the Committee's responsibility to fully evaluate the fitness of a nominee to the Supreme Court," the Iowa Republican wrote. |
| The Senate, the committee chairman notes, "and only the Senate", is tasked with vetting a president's Supreme Court nominee. | The Senate, the committee chairman notes, "and only the Senate", is tasked with vetting a president's Supreme Court nominee. |
| "The FBI does not make a credibility assessment of any information it receives with respect to a nominee. | "The FBI does not make a credibility assessment of any information it receives with respect to a nominee. |
| "Nor is it tasked with investigating a matter simply because the Committee deems it important." | "Nor is it tasked with investigating a matter simply because the Committee deems it important." |
| Back in 1991, however, the FBI did investigate sexual harassment claims against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. | Back in 1991, however, the FBI did investigate sexual harassment claims against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. |
| The White House under President George W Bush ordered that inquiry. It took three days, CNN notes, and the claims by Anita Hill were dismissed as unfounded. | The White House under President George W Bush ordered that inquiry. It took three days, CNN notes, and the claims by Anita Hill were dismissed as unfounded. |
| Judge Thomas was narrowly confirmed and he remains a Supreme Court justice. | Judge Thomas was narrowly confirmed and he remains a Supreme Court justice. |
| Mr Grassley's letter states that Prof Ford has until Friday morning to provide the committee with her prepared testimony and biography if she plans to testify next Monday. | Mr Grassley's letter states that Prof Ford has until Friday morning to provide the committee with her prepared testimony and biography if she plans to testify next Monday. |
| He said he was "disturbed" to hear that she had been facing threats and harassment, but urged her to speak before the committee. | He said he was "disturbed" to hear that she had been facing threats and harassment, but urged her to speak before the committee. |
| "You have stated repeatedly that Dr Ford wants to tell her story. I sincerely hope that Dr Ford will accept my invitation to do so, either privately or publicly, on Monday." | "You have stated repeatedly that Dr Ford wants to tell her story. I sincerely hope that Dr Ford will accept my invitation to do so, either privately or publicly, on Monday." |
| Judge Kavanaugh has called the allegation "completely false". | Judge Kavanaugh has called the allegation "completely false". |
| Prof Ford, a psychology lecturer in California, has accused him of drunkenly trying to remove her clothing at a house party in a Washington DC suburb in 1982 when they were both teenagers. | Prof Ford, a psychology lecturer in California, has accused him of drunkenly trying to remove her clothing at a house party in a Washington DC suburb in 1982 when they were both teenagers. |
| She says he pinned her to a bed and clamped his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream. | She says he pinned her to a bed and clamped his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream. |
| Anita Hill - whose allegation against Clarence Thomas has drawn endless parallels with the Ford-Kavanaugh controversy - says the accuser must not be hurried. | |
| "Do not rush these hearings," she wrote in an opinion piece for the New York Times. | "Do not rush these hearings," she wrote in an opinion piece for the New York Times. |
| "Doing so would not only signal that sexual assault accusations are not important." | "Doing so would not only signal that sexual assault accusations are not important." |
| What are Trump and other Republicans saying? | What are Trump and other Republicans saying? |
| On Wednesday, President Donald Trump continued to support his nominee, telling reporters outside the White House: "He is such an outstanding man, [it is] very hard for me to imagine anything happened." | On Wednesday, President Donald Trump continued to support his nominee, telling reporters outside the White House: "He is such an outstanding man, [it is] very hard for me to imagine anything happened." |
| "I want to see what she [Prof Ford] has to say but I want to give it all the time they need," the Republican president said. "If she shows up that would be wonderful." | "I want to see what she [Prof Ford] has to say but I want to give it all the time they need," the Republican president said. "If she shows up that would be wonderful." |
| Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted on Wednesday that it was "imperative" to move forward on the Kavanaugh vote. | Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted on Wednesday that it was "imperative" to move forward on the Kavanaugh vote. |
| He has called the allegation against Judge Kavanaugh "a drive-by shooting". | He has called the allegation against Judge Kavanaugh "a drive-by shooting". |
| "I'll listen to the lady, but we're going to bring this to a close," said the South Carolina senator. | "I'll listen to the lady, but we're going to bring this to a close," said the South Carolina senator. |
| Fellow Republican Susan Collins of Maine said on Wednesday that she hopes Prof Ford "will reconsider and testify" on Monday. | Fellow Republican Susan Collins of Maine said on Wednesday that she hopes Prof Ford "will reconsider and testify" on Monday. |
| Ms Collins and Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski are moderate Republicans who have voted with Democrats in the past, making them possible swing votes when it comes to Judge Kavanaugh. | Ms Collins and Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski are moderate Republicans who have voted with Democrats in the past, making them possible swing votes when it comes to Judge Kavanaugh. |
| Both have called on Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford to testify under oath. | Both have called on Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford to testify under oath. |
| On Wednesday, Senator Jeff Flake - who had previously said he would not decide his vote until hearing both testimonies - also called on Prof Ford to accept the Senate's invitation. |