Republicans are playing hardball with Brett Kavanaugh's accuser, telling her that she has to decide by 10 a.m. on Friday if she'll testify next week while Christine Ford's attorney argues there are 'multiple witnesses' that should be heard from.
'It would be a disservice,' Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley wrote in a letter to Democrats on Monday 'to delay this hearing any further.'
He told Ford's team she 'must submit her written testimony and biography by Friday at 10 a.m,' which is a prelude to any person testifying before the Senate.
Grassley noted that Kavanaugh has cooperated with a background investigation and Senate investigators, plus testified on the allegation under 'penalty of felony' with Senate staff on Monday.
Sen. Chuck Grassley gave Christine Ford until 10 am Friday to decide whether she'll testify
Grassley said Brett Kavanaugh testified on the allegation under 'penalty of felony' with Senate staff on Monday
'He sat for a transcribed interview on Monday. He understood that he was under penalty of felony, if he was not truthful. He fully, candidly and unequivocally answered all questions. We have no reason to doubt the truthfulness of Judge Kavanaugh's testimony,' Grassley noted.
Ford, through her attorney, had requested the FBI investigate her allegation that the Supreme Court nominee sexually assaulted her at a party when they were high school students in the 1980s in suburban Maryland.
Her lawyers are asking for more time.
'The Committee's stated plan to move forward with a hearing that has only two witnesses is not a fair or good faith investigation,' said Lisa Banks, the lawyer for Ford, in a statement.
'The rush to a hearing is unnecessary, and contrary to the Committee discovering the truth,' she added.
Only Ford and Kavanaugh have been invited to testify on Monday. Democrats have argued more witnesses are needed to safeguard Ford from experiencing an Anita Hill like situation, where her personal life was questioned in Clarence Thomas' 1991 bruising and bitter confirmation battle.
But Mark Judge, a high school pal of Kavanaugh's who Ford claims was in the room at the time of the alleged incident, has declined to testify.
It's unclear who else Ford's team wants to talk.
Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination was inching its way back on track Wednesday as key Republican senators pushed Ford to testify.
One by one GOP senators began to play hardball, making clear their desire to hear from Ford while indicating the confirmation process would proceed forward without her should she not appear.
They argue they are making a good faith effort to hear her out with one senator slamming her for playing politics ahead of November's crucial midterm election.
Bob Corker and other Republican senators are making clear their desire to hear from Christine Ford while indicating the confirmation process would proceed forward without her should she not appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Corker argues 'Republicans extended a hand in good faith'
Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, who was the first lawmaker to put Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation in doubt, is now pleading with Ford to speak to lawmakers
Flake said Ford can testify in public or private as she feels comfortable
Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who called for a delay on the Kavanaugh confirmation vote after Ford went public on Sunday, is now saying she should testify in Monday's scheduled hearing or the vote should proceed.
'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,' he tweeted late Tuesday night.
Some of the harshest rhetoric came from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who slammed Ford for playing politics with her demand.
'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 until after the midterms elections,' he said in a statement Wednesday morning. 'It is imperative the Judiciary Committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination.'
There are fears among Republicans that Democrats are trying to delay a vote on Kavanaugh's until after the midterm election, when there is a possibility Democrats will take control of the Senate and control the confirmation process.
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday morning, before he left to inspect the damage from Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas, he would like to hear from Ford.
'I really want to see her. I really would want to see what she has to say,' he said. 'If she shows up that would be wonderful, if she doesn't show up that would be unfortunate.'
Republican Sen. Jeff Flake was the first lawmaker to put Kavanaugh's confirmation in doubt when he said Sunday he was 'not comfortable voting yes' on President Donald Trump's nominee until the Senate Judiciary Committee heard from Ford.
He is now pleading with Ford to speak to lawmakers - either in public or private.
'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,' he tweeted Tuesday night.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley delayed Thursday's scheduled vote in the committee to move ahead on Kavanaugh so senators could hear from Ford.
Republican Sen. John Kennedy, who sits on the judiciary panel, said the decision on whether or not to appear was Ford's.
'I sure hope Dr. Ford comes Monday. If she doesn't, that's her call,' he told CNN Wednesday morning.
He's also reflecting another argument Republicans are pushing - that they acted fairly and in good faith but will move on.
'My priority is fairness and the truth. I want to be fair to Dr. Ford and I want to be fair to Judge Brett Kavanaugh. You have to put this in context. The confirmation hearing is over. Judge Brett Kavanaugh testified for 32 hours. We had a private confidential meeting, just the senators and Judge Brett Kavanaugh afterwards to talk about anything nobody wanted to bring up in the hearing.'
Republicans are balancing their desire to place a conservative justice - who can tilt the Supreme Court's bench to the right - on the high court before its new term begins on Oct. 1 with fears of alienating women voters ahead of the November election.
The GOP is also mindful that with its 51-seat majority in the Senate, they can only lose one vote - if all Democrats vote no on Kavanaugh - in order to get him confirmed.
And the two Republicans to watch are both women - moderate GOP Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, neither of whom has committed to voting for Kavanaugh.
President Donald Trump said it would be 'unfortunate' if Christine Ford doesn't testify
Brett Kavanaugh, who denies the sexual assault allegation against him, leaves his home in Chevy Chase, Md., on Wednesday as his Supreme Court nomination inches back on track
Democrats on Tuesday charged Republicans with not doing enough to ensure Ford avoids an Anita Hill-type situation, where Clarence Thomas' accuser was assailed by Senate Judiciary Committee members in his 1991 confirmation hearing, and the GOP is countering they are giving her the option of public or private testimony.
'She is under no obligation to participate in the Republican efforts to sweep this whole thing under the rug, to continue this nomination on the fast track and to participate in a smear campaign and basically a railroad job,' said Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, a member of the judiciary committee, to reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill. 'This is what they did to Anita Hill!'
She added: 'I just want to say to the men in this country, just shut up and step up. Do the right thing, for a change.'
Democratic Sen. Patty Murray also is arguing the hearing date was set without consulting with Ford about her schedule.
'The chairman of the committee announced a hearing without consulting her to be treated fairly she should have at least been asked if she was available that day and he should have said we're going to have an investigation in order for her to know she is going to be treated fairly,' Murray said.
But Grassley, the Republican chairman of the judiciary panel, said there was never a plan for Ford and Kavanaugh to sit together in the hearing and that committee staff offered Ford a choice of dates.
'Contrary to suggestions by Dr. Ford's attorneys, the committee had no plans to place Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh on a panel together, and never indicated plans to do so. Grassley's staff offered Dr. Ford multiple dates as well as a choice of providing information in a public or private setting,' he said in a statement.
He also questioned why an FBI investigation was necessary for her testimony.
'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,' he said.
He noted: '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.'
Murray, however, argued Tuesday that an FBI investigation and more witnesses would help collaborate Ford's story and avoid a circus-like hearing atmosphere in addition to giving comfort to Ford in reliving the incident in public.
'We're calling for an investigation, an assessment of the facts, for other witnesses to be heard from and then have this hearing,' Murray said.
Democrats charged Republicans with not doing enough to ensure Ford avoids an Anita Hill-type situation. Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono said: 'I just want to say to the men in this country, just shut up and step up. Do the right thing, for a change.'
Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the judiciary panel, said staff offered Ford accommodations to fit her schedule and to let her speak in private or public
Ford on Tuesday evening, in a letter sent through her attorneys, said she wants a 'full investigation' by the FBI before she would participate in a hearing on her allegations against Kavanaugh, which he has denied.
Her lawyers wrote that '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,' according to a letter obtained by CNN.
Ford says she wants the FBI to probe the allegations before she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The letter continued to argue that Ford has gotten a 'stunning amount of support from her community,' although she has been 'the target of vicious harassment and even death threats.'
Christine Ford asked for an FBI investigation before she testifies
Christine Blasey (now Ford) and Brett Kavanaugh in their respective high school year books
It said she has been forced to leave her home due to the scrutiny. 'Her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online,' the letter said.
Ford described to The Washington Post in detail how, when she was at a teenage party in the 1980s, Kavanaugh and his high school classmate followed her upstairs when she went to the bathroom and pushed her into a bedroom.
She detailed how Kavanaugh held her down, tried to rip off her swimsuit, and put his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream.
She said she escaped when his friend, Mark Judge, jumped on top of them.
'I thought he might inadvertently kill me,' Ford told the newspaper.
She said the incident affected her for years.
'I think it derailed me substantially for four or five years,' she said. She struggled academically and socially, she said, and was unable to have healthy relationships with men. 'I was very ill-equipped to forge those kinds of relationships.'
Judge said on Tuesday he would not testify.
'I have no memory of this alleged incident,' he wrote in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee sent via his attorney.
'I do not recall the party described in Dr. Ford's letter,' added Judge, who wrote a book about his high school days describing heavy partying, drinking, and teenage sex.
He also defended longtime pal Kavanaugh, saying: 'I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford described.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/20/kavanaugh-nomination-back-on-track-as-key-republican-senators-play-hardball-with-accuser/
Main photo article Republicans are playing hardball with Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser, telling her that she has to decide by 10 a.m. on Friday if she’ll testify next week while Christine Ford’s attorney argues there are ‘multiple witnesses’ that should be heard from.
‘It would be a...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/19/23/505B135F00000578-6185413-image-a-1_1537397247288.jpg
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