GOP offers to ban cameras from testimony of Kavanaugh accuser
By Alexander Bolton - 09/18/18 01:36 PM EDT
Senate Republicans say they are willing to allow Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of a decades-old sexual assault charge, to testify in a closed session without the presence of television cameras if that makes her more comfortable appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.
Ford has yet to confirm her presence at a Monday hearing that could be pivotal to Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
“She has the option of a closed session, with cameras or without. We want her to appear,†said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a member of the Judiciary panel. “We want her to appear and she has said before we made the decision that she wanted to appear.â€
Republican staff on the Judiciary Committee say Ford has not responded to requests asking her to schedule her testimony next week. Kavanaugh will also testify under oath.
Nevertheless, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), leaving McConnell’s office, says he still hopes to hold a hearing.
“I hope so,†Grassley said when asked if a hearing is going to take place.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/407245-gop-offers-to-ban-cameras-from-testimony-from-kavanaugh-accuser