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President Donald Trump said the Democrats were using allegations of sexual assault to delay confirmation of his choice by the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI
Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh may be back in the Senate Judiciary Committee next Monday.(Photo: USA TODAY)
WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans insist Tuesday on a truncated process and timetable to determine whether a 36-year-old sexual assault complaint should be overturned Brett Kavanaugh goes to the Supreme Court.
Refusing to consider the Democrats' demands for an FBI inquiry or an expanded public hearing with additional witnesses, Republican leaders said California professor Christine Blasey Ford is expected to have the chance next week to tell his story against categorical denial. from Kavanaugh.
"She will have the opportunity to be heard on Monday," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "She can do it in private if she prefers or publicly if she prefers. Monday is his opportunity.
Republicans' insistence on meeting the strict timetable to address Kavanaugh's high school behavior charge contrasts with their 2016 stance, which has waited 14 months for a seat on the Supreme Court rather than confirming the president's candidate Barack Obama, Merrick Garland.
On the other hand, the Democrats – hoping to win a majority in the Senate in November's elections and denying President Donald Trump his second Supreme Court judge – have tried to launch the process. A longer investigation into Kavanaugh's past could increase their chances of defeating his nomination and put pressure on the Republicans, given the brutal reaction of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault.
"We should not rush for judgment with a false hearing on Monday," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. "A fake hearing would send a very clear message that women are not valued in this country."
The Democrats would prefer a show similar to the one that took place in 1991, when Anita Hill 's accusation regarding sexual harassment at work against Clarence Thomas nearly upset his candidacy for the Supreme Court. Thomas was confirmed, 52-48, but only after almost two dozen witnesses testified at a hearing to review his allegations.
California Senator Dianne Feinstein, the highest ranking Democratic Party figure who was first informed of Ford's accusation in July when the professor asked for anonymity, denounced the efforts of Republicans to limit the hearing next week to two witnesses.
"Compare that to the 22 witnesses at the Anita Hill hearing in 1991, and it's impossible to take this process seriously," said Feinstein. "It's another attempt by Republicans to rush this appointment and not entirely Judge Kavanaugh."
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley of R-Iowa said his staff had contacted Ford "three or four times" to develop plans for a public hearing without receiving a response.
"That kind of raises the question, does he want to come to a public hearing or not?" Said Grassley.
Debra Katz, Ford's attorney representative, told CNN on Monday that his client was ready to testify about the alleged attack. Ford said that at a party in a suburb of Maryland, Kavanaugh tried to force herself on her and covered her mouth when she tried to scream.
Kavanaugh, 53, a Trump Court of Appeal judge to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy, has agreed to appear before the committee after a four-day hearing repeatedly interrupted by protesters opposed to his appointment . He denied Ford 's accusation.
Trump praised Kavanaugh twice on Tuesday, calling him "a great gentleman" and "not a man who deserves him". He blamed the Democrats for the stalemate.
"They just resisted, and they just block," said Trump.
In preparation for the hearing, Republican judicial committee staff conducted telephone interviews on Monday, which the Democrats boycotted in protest. Committee spokesperson Taylor Foy said the staff had spoken with Kavanaugh, whose "answers were frank and direct".
They also reached out to Mark Judge, who, according to Ford, was in the room during the high school incident. The judge sent a letter to his lawyer stating that he did not want to testify, that he did not remember attending the party and "never saw Brett act as described by Dr. Ford".
Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson said his party's efforts to slow the process had more to do with opposition to his nomination than with a political comeback.
"If the Democrats did not want it, Trump would not have the right to name a" yes "to the court," he said. "Then they will do what they can to stop Kavanaugh."
Contributor: Eliza Collins, Maureen Groppe, Nicole Gaudiano, David Jackson and Kevin Johnson
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