GOP making counteroffer to Kavanaugh accuser
By Alexander Bolton - 09/21/18 01:01 PM EDT
Senate Republicans are reportedly planning to come back to Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, with a new offer to testify Wednesday and answer questions from a special counsel.
The likely offer, reported by CNN and NBC, would have Ford testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday and then give Kavanaugh a chance to respond.
A Republican spokesman for the committee, however, declined to confirm the report.
Ford’s lawyers in a phone call with committee staff Wednesday afternoon asked that the hearing be held Thursday, that Kavanaugh testify first, and that senators — and not an outside counsel — question the witnesses.
Ford also requested through her legal team that Kavanaugh not be present in the room when she testifies and that adequate security is provided.
Republican staff on the call Wednesday mostly listened without providing any immediate counteroffer, according to a Republican source familiar with the conversation.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) had given Ford a deadline of 10 a.m. Friday to submit a biography and prepared remarks ahead of a hearing that he had originally scheduled for Monday to hear from her and Kavanaugh.
Kavanaugh said in a letter to the committee that he was looking forward to testifying before the committee on Monday.
“I remain committed to defending my integrity,†he wrote.
Senate Republicans have yet to reschedule the hearing.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/407799-gop-makes-counter-offer-to-kavanaugh-accuser