“It’s a process. We all feel, speaking for all of the Republicans, we want to give everybody a chance to say what they have to say”.
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Ford came forward with the bombshell allegation on Sunday, just days before the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee was expected to approve Kavanaugh as the ninth justice of the Supreme Court. The two appeared before a special Judiciary Committee hearing, told their separate stories, and Thomas ultimately was confirmed, 52-48. Still, they may want to verify elements of her story by trying to interview witnesses and if they can pinpoint where exactly the alleged attack occurred, they may visit the home.
“It kind of raises the question, do they want to come to the public hearing or not?”
McConnell said Tuesday that the committee has yet to decide on the makeup of the hearing, and added that they would offer her the opportunity to speak privately if she preferred.
Instead Republicans were preparing to cast the hearing as an unresolvable “he said-she said” dispute rooted in a hazy incident involving teenagers from 1982. “I guess we’ve invited everybody”, Trump said during a joint press conference with the President of Poland on Tuesday.
“It’s good to hear from both the accuser and the accused here”, Conway said, “and allow the Senate to weigh what they learn in those exchanges, along with the mountain of other testimonial evidence and other statements of support and endorsements of Brett Kavanaugh by the women he’s known all throughout his life”.
Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume said that this “all points in one direction” and is “pretty transparent” that Democrats are using Ford to stall the vote on Kavanaugh. “I think they missed a real big opportunity to send a powerful message”. “The invitation for Monday (Sept. 24) still stands”. I don’t doubt that Ford is telling the truth as best she recalls it, but her recollection is fuzzy. “I owe her an apology”, said Biden, a Democrat. The president said he trusts the Senate to do its job.
“We’re looking to get this done as soon as possible”, Trump told reporters at the White House. Democrats in general are complaining that the process is being rushed, but some women are seeing a deeper – and possibly insidious – narrative, especially if Republicans go ahead with Monday’s hearing without Ford.
However, if a single additional Republican senator, such as Flake or Sen.
Democrats complain that Ford was not consulted before the hearing was announced. “We’re ready to hear anything she has to say”.
“What would be the goal of the hearing if Dr. Ford doesn’t respond?” he told Hewitt.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the panel should have the Monday hearing without or with Ford. “And that’s what you have hearings for”. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who was first informed of the charge weeks ago, but held on to the information.
“What we’re saying is there should be an investigation because that’s the right thing to do”, Banks said.
Ford told The Washington Post another person witnessed the attempted assault, Mark Judge.
Kavanaugh is scheduled to appear again before the Senate Judiciary Committee next Monday following allegations that have endangered his appointment to the Supreme Court.
In a statement given through his lawyer, Kavanaugh friend Mark Judge also says he “never saw” the federal judge “act in the manner” alleged by California psychologist Christine Blasey Ford.
“This is not a man that deserves this”, Trump said.
“She will talk with the committee”.
Mr Trump characterised the issue as a “little delay” and described as “ridiculous” the suggestion that Mr Kavanaugh might withdraw his candidacy.
Some Democratic lawmakers have also called for an FBI investigation.
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“The hearing is the investigation”.
