Christine Blasey Ford Agrees to Testify Against Brett Kavanaugh for Sexual Assault
On Saturday, Christine Blasey Ford, a psychologist and professor that accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in high school, agreed to testify against the Supreme Court nominee to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
According to the New York Times, Dr. Ford, "accepts the Committee's request to provide her first-hand knowledge of Brett Kavanaugh’s sexual misconduct next week." The hearing is now tentatively set for Thursday. This follows a week where Ford and her lawyers were locked in negotiation with Sen. Chuck Grassley, chair of the Judiciary Committee. Ford's lawyers described Grassley's proposal of a Wednesday hearing date, “fundamentally inconsistent with the committee’s promise of a fair, impartial investigation into her allegations.”
According to CBS News, Ford had called for an FBI investigation before her testimony and criticized Grassley for scheduling the hearing so soon. "While Dr. Ford's life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," Ford's lawyers wrote in a letter to Grassley.
After coming forward a week ago, Ford was invited for a public hearing after Grassley wanted to "give these recent allegations a full airing." According to The Hill, the senator said, "Anyone who comes forward as Dr. Ford has done deserves to be heard."
The New York Times also reports that Ford had a 2:30 p.m. deadline on Saturday to confirm her appearance. Details are still in negotiation, but if no final deal is reached, "Mr. Grassley will be left to decide on Sunday whether to move ahead with a committee vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination that is scheduled for Monday, or give Dr. Blasey more time."
Kavanaugh, who Ford accused of "trying to attack me and remove my clothing," during a high school party to the Washington Post, has vehemently denied the allegations and is insistent on testifying.
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