Posted on 09/24/2018 8:01:06 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
A lawyer for Christina Blasey Ford—the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault—raised concerns on Monday about the setup for a public hearing where Ford will testify later this week.
Michael R. Bromwich, a lawyer for Ford, said in a letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, that the plan for Thursday's public hearing "does not appear designed to provide Dr. Blasey Ford with fair and respectful treatment."
The letter casts some doubt on the deal Ford's team made with Senate Judiciary leaders to appear at a hearing on Thursday.
Bromwich in the letter pointed to the hiring of "an unnamed 'experienced sex crimes prosecutor,'" warning it could help turn the Judiciary Committee hearing into a "circus."
"[It] is contrary to the Majority's repeated emphasis on the need for the Senate and this Committee's members to fulfill their constitutional obligations. It is also inconsistent with your stated wish to avoid a “circus,” as well as Dr. Blasey Ford’s repeated requests through counsel that senators conduct the questioning," Bromwich wrote.
"This is not a criminal trial for which the involvement of an experienced sex crimes prosecutor would be appropriate. Neither Dr. Blasey Ford nor Judge Kavanaugh is on trial. The goal should be to develop the relevant facts, not try a case," he continued.
He added that there was "no precedent" for the Judiciary Committee to use an outside counsel "for the sole purpose of shielding the members" from asking a witness questions when they are testifying before the committee.
Bromwich added that Grassley's staff hasn't responded "to a number of outstanding questions about the hearing," including what the role will be for the "experienced sex crimes prosecutor" during the hearing.
"Please identify this person and ask your staff to send us her resume immediately. We respectfully request to meet with her tomorrow," he added.
Republican senators have been mulling bringing in an outside counsel, potentially a woman, to question Ford and Kavanaugh during Thursday's hearing.
GOP Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) said on Monday after a meeting with Judiciary Committee Republican members that they were "leaning toward" using an outside counsel.
"I think we're leaning toward having a staff lawyer, an outside lawyer do it on our side for continuity ... rather than having 11 people for five minutes each," he told reporters.
But Ford's legal team has raised concerns during negotiations with Grassley's staff that using an outside lawyer would make the hearing too much like a trial. Democrats have said they are going to ask their own questions.
Bromwich in the letter also took aim at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who argued during a Senate floor speech that Democrats were using Ford's allegations against Kavanaugh as part of a "smear campaign."
"The Majority Leader dismissed Dr. Ford’s experience as a 'smear campaign,' claiming mistakenly that the witnesses’ statements to the Committee constitute 'a complete lack of evidence,' implying that there has been a thorough investigation," he said in the letter to Grassley.
McConnell during his Senate floor speech accused Democrats of running a "choreographed smear campaign that ignored Dr. Ford's request for confidentiality" in an attempt to hurt Kavanaugh's nomination.
"This is an allegation of misconduct which all four supposed witnesses either flatly contradict or are unable to back up. In addition to Judge Kavanaugh, the other three supposed witnesses have said they have -- quote -- ‘no knowledge,’ ‘no recollection,’ and ‘no memory’ of the alleged incident," McConnell said.
Bromwich's letter comes after Grassley sent his own letter to Ford on Monday saying both she and Kavanaugh "deserve a credible and fair process."
"I'm writing to say that I am committed to fair and respectful treatment of you, as you've requested. I've worked to make certain the committee I chair handles all individuals involved in hearings in that manner, and you deserve the same," Grassley said.
That’s right - it won’t be fair and respectful for Brett Kavanaugh, that’s for sure.
I’d be happy if you did. The complete absence of any sort of deterrent to the most scumbag maneuvers these cretins can think up has become a clear and present danger to the Republic. Even if it’s just getting punched in the mouth they fear, perhaps that will get them to dial things back to the level where they don’t deserve get punched in the mouth.
The drama queen/publicity whore needs to be told “Foxtrot Uniform”.
Uncoded and unabreviated.
How respectful have the Dems and their SJW mobs been of Justice Kavanaugh and his totally innocent family (women and children)?
Maybe murkowski and Collins will chase Ford through the halls of the Senate trying to get her back in to testify just like Madeleine Albright chased Yasser Arafat and tried to get him back to the negotiating table during the Oslo Peace Accords, after he already started another Uprising and had no interest in making peace.
If the people of Maine and Alaska want Collins and murkowski as their Senators, that’s fine. But they need to run as either Democrats or Independents. The Republican Party must be purged of this old prototype. It has to become obsolete like the Chevy Corvair after 1966.
bookmark
Is there a way to stop someone who is obviously NOT a Republican from running as a Republican??? If there is maybe this is the way to STOP this BS!!
the point of the hearing should be designed to get to the TRUTH. The behavior of Ford’s lawyer has been to play politics going along with the Dem talking points.
This kooky woman has become the fabled “boy who cried wolf.”
She’s gone too far....and simply cant be believed.
At first, she was taken seriously ...there was an interest in what she had to say.
Now she’s turned into a nit-picking pest ....... her only complete thought seems to be “Me First.
Looking for way out of showing up.
If she isn’t driving through Ohio about now, she just won’t show. Oh, hell, she’s not going to show regardless.
If this crazy, lying bitch is one minute late, Grassley should force a vote then and there. McConnell should then have the full Senate vote within the next hour.
They want to play more games, then jam it up their @sses.
It’s supposed to be impartial, confrontational, and diligent in seeking out the truth without favor. No more and no less.
All that’s needed is subpoena Her Now!
It’s time to Freep these two Senators and tell them it’s time that her games end and subpoena her to be there on Thursday UNDER oath and backpedal all the promises made to her except for the female lawyer. She hates the idea that the optics will be gone of “old white men” asking the questions. Subpoena Her Now!
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/constituents/questions-and-comments
https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm
Fingers uncrossed...
You have to have the hearing in order to know its fair and respectful. /nazi pelosi
This is an example of why the NBA and college basketball have the shot clock.
Now,Tom,will you catch it with your left hand...
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