Posted on 09/20/2018 8:25:39 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, is reportedly willing to publicly testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee next Thursday.
Lawyers for Ford told committee staffers during a call Thursday evening to negotiate details of a potential hearing that she wanted Kavanaugh to testify before her and she does not want to be in the same room as him, according to multiple reports.
A source told CNN that Ford's lawyers are also opposed to an outside counsel being used to question her during a hearing, something that was being discussed by Republican senators to avoid the optics of 11 male GOP senators questioning Ford.
The call comes after Ford's lawyers opened the door earlier Thursday to her appearing before the committee next week, while warning that a public hearing currently scheduled for Monday was "not possible."
“She wishes to testify, provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and which ensure her safety,” Ford lawyer Debra Katz wrote, asking to talk with committee staff about the “conditions” for her testimony.
Katz had also raised concerns about being able to guarantee the safety of Ford and her family, noting they have received threats.
“As you are aware, she has been receiving death threats, which have been reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and she and her family have been forced out of their home. She wishes to testify, provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and ensure her safety,” Katz wrote.
Aides for Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said Thursday evening that they had a call with Ford's lawyers "to discuss receiving her testimony in the Judiciary Committee."
"[Grassley] will consult with his colleagues on the committee. He remains committed to providing a fair forum for both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh," they added.
In one sign of activity, Katz’s lawyers cancelled multiple TV appearances scheduled for Thursday night, citing active negotiations with Judiciary Committee staff on a potential hearing.
The talks come after the chances of Ford publicly testifying had been all but written off amid a stalemate between her lawyers and Grassley's staff about whether the FBI should reopen its background investigation into Kavanaugh.
Ford's lawyers initially indicated the FBI reopening its probe was a precursor to any public testimony, while GOP senators and the White House had warned it was unlikely to happen.
Ford’s public testimony would make for a highly dramatic moment and could sway the votes of key senators who have not announced their decision yet on Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court.
Ford has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her during a party in the early 1980s. Ford told The Washington Post that Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, tried to remove her clothing and covered her mouth when she tried to protest.
Kavanaugh, who has strongly denied Ford's allegations, said in a letter to Grassley released by the White House on Thursday evening that he was prepared to go ahead with testifying at a hearing on Monday.
"I continue to want a hearing as soon as possible, so that I can clear my name," he wrote.
I bet she gets to listen in another room with her lawyer talking notes.
If he does testify first, she should NOT be able to hear his testimony.
No. Either tomrrow, or nothing. It is all BS.
Don’t even waste his time thinking about that. There’s no scenario in hell where an accuser testifies AFTER the person she is accusing. He doesn’t even know what her allegation is!
No. Just no. Enough. This is character assassination and the democrat party is refusing to even release the letter to the republicans. No special rules for this harpy. Show up Monday, testify like any other American would have to and end this crap once and for all.
Under conditions that cannot be met. Fakenews.
Four days too late. Guess she could watch the committee vote or maybe stick around and watch Kavanaugh sworn in on the hotel room or bar TV. Maybe swing over to the PGA course for old times sake?
..delay,delay,delay...
They need more operatives to come forward...
‘Compromise’. Tuesday.
I think it was rescheduled already to Monday but now ford wants to come on Thursday.
He will also pay for the hamburgers then.
SPOT ON!
“To ensure her safety...”
The left pretending it has something to fear from conservatives. Fake fear, fear signalling to the rest of the collective.
Obnoxious.
Hell no...
She doesn’t run Congress...get this biddie in their Monday or VOTE!
A very simple point: Her story is a simple one. It’s a one or two minute incident with someone she’s never otherwise known. She has no reason for these demands. Just tell the story.
How I wish the GOP had said: Let’s assume the story is true, a drunk incident 36 years ago by a 17 year old isn’t disqualifying anyway. How could it be disqualifying?
YOU are not in control, and you have no case, no evidence, it’s only hear-say!
Fake News! Fake Story! Fake as the Democratic Polls!
It is total B.S. designed to stall the Judiciary Committee. Blasey-Ford’s hired guns know damned well that the committee has to provide notices before its meetings and there is not sufficient time to notice up a meeting for September 27th.
Grassley needs to convene the postponed meeting on Monday and let the committee proceed on the 24th.
That's why the accuser always goes first in our system of law.
However, this is Congress where they make the law, but are exempt from the law.
-PJ
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