The 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday formally appealed to the panel’s chairman to postpone a confirmation vote on President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh until a woman’s sexual assault claims against him can be heard.
“There are serious questions about Judge Kavanaugh’s record, truthfulness, and character,” the letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley said. “The Committee should not move forward until all of these questions have been thoroughly evaluated and answered.”
Christine Blasey Ford, a research psychologist at Palo Alto University in California, went public with her allegations that Kavanaugh held her down and groped her during a high school party in suburban Maryland in 1982.
“As you are aware, Dr. Ford’s serious allegations were submitted to the FBI for investigation last week. Now that her story is public, it is even more important that we give the Bureau the time it needs to follow up,” the letter said. “All Senators, regardless of party, should insist the FBI perform its due diligence and fully investigate the allegations as part of its review of Judge Kavanaugh’s background.”
The panel had scheduled a Thursday vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Ford, 51, told the Washington Post in an article published Sunday, that Kavanaugh and another man – both “stumbling drunk” – forced her into the bedroom and Kavanaugh tried to pull off her bathing suit and the clothing she wore over it before she managed to escape.
Ford wrote about the incident in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee in July, but said she was reluctant to speak out publicly.
Feinstein, mentioning Ford’s request for privacy, released it to Democrats last week and handed it over to the FBI.
Kavanaugh, who “categorically” denied the allegations, said he was willing to testify about the assault claims.
A lawyer for Ford, Debra Katz, told NBC’s “Today” show on Monday that her client would also be willing to appear before the panel.
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