Three Republican governors call for Brett Kavanaugh vote to be postponed following Christine Ford testimony
Three Republican governors have called for the vote on Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in light of Christine Blasey Ford’s allegation of sexual assault.
Larry Hogan of Maryland, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and John Kasich of Ohio have all urged their fellow party members on the Senate Judiciary Committee to postpone the vote until a more thorough investigations of Dr Ford’s and two other women’s allegations have been conducted.
Mr Baker tweeted: “The accusations brought against Judge Kavanaugh are sickening and deserve an independent investigation. There should be no vote in the Senate.”
Mr Kasich argued to Politico it was “in the best interest of our country and the integrity of the court” to suspend the vote until an FBI investigation was carried out and the Senate heard from other witnesses and accusers, as was the case when Anita Hill came forward to accuse Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in 1991.
Mr Hogan, known for distancing himself from Mr Trump and the far right in his largely Democrat state of Maryland, also said: “There are credible charges and big concerns. They need to be heard. [The Senate] ought to take whatever time it takes to make sure these accusers are heard and he has a chance to respond to them.”
Dr Ford accuses Mr Kavanaugh of assaulting her at a party while the pair where in high school in the early 1980s. Mr Kavanaugh denies all the allegations against him.
Her testimony lasted for approximately four hours today during which she recounted details of house’s floor plan, a map of the neighbourhood, the names of other people who were in the home at the time of the alleged incident, and notes from her subsequent therapy sessions over the years.
Dr Ford was questioned by Arizona sex crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell on behalf of the male Republican Senators on the committee.
Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein reminded the public: “This is not a trial for Dr Ford, this is a job interview for Brett Kavanaugh”.
Mr Kavanaugh used his testimony to deny the allegations and say they had “destroyed his family”.
