Mitch McConnell Says Republicans Will 'Plow Right Through' Nominating Brett Kavanaugh
- by Kelli Lowe
- in Global Media
- — Sep 21, 2018
Prof Ford has accused Judge Kavanaugh of drunkenly pinning her to a bed and trying to remove her clothing at a house party in a Washington DC suburb when they were both teenagers 36 years ago. "I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place", Trump tweeted.
Any defections from the Republicans' narrow Senate majority could sink the nomination and deal a major setback to Trump, who has been appointing more conservatives to the high court and the broader federal judiciary.
Although inferring otherwise, Whelan said he's not insinuating that the man he publicly named and shared photos of did anything wrong, or that Ford is now "mistakenly remembering" this man as Kavanaugh.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reassured Republicans that Judge Brett Kavanaugh ― President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick now facing a sexual assault accusation ― will soon take his place on the highest court in the nation.
Collins is an important player because she and a handful of other borderline senators could make the difference in the final vote on Kavanaugh in the Senate.
Ford has agreed to testify next week, if the Committee agrees to conditions, including that Kavanaugh must not be in the room while she answers questions.
Testifying Monday, however, "is not possible and the Committee's insistence that it occur then is arbitrary in any event", Ford's lawyers wrote.
"If the White House were to ask the FBI to reopen its file and go conduct the investigation, the FBI could do that", he said.
There is no evidence to suggest Ford told her parents about an incident at the time, or that anyone in her family reported it to law enforcement in Maryland, where she alleges the attack took place.
Until Friday, Mr Trump had held back and followed the Republican party line of standing by the judge while insisting Dr Ford be given a respectful, fair hearing.
She said she is willing to testify at earliest on Thursday.
Ford's allegation has jeopardized Kavanaugh's nomination to a lifetime post on the Supreme Court, which previously was on track toward confirmation. Kavanaugh, now a judge on the powerful US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, has repeatedly denied her allegation.
Cristina King Miranda, who posted on Facebook Tuesday that she'd heard rumors of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's alleged attack on a classmate, was already backtracking on her claims Wednesday morning.
But Trump also later told reporters that she should be able to state her case. Kavanaugh was seen at the White House on Thursday.
It's not the first time Flake and Trump Jr. have tangled on Twitter.
But according to USA media reports, Katz said in an email to the Senate Judiciary Committee that Ford still wishes to testify "provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and which ensure her safety".
It's unclear whether that would change after Ford's attorneys spoke with the committee.
Blasey Ford has been given a deadline of 10 a.m.et Friday to make a decision about whether she will testify Monday. "Look at it. The angrier they get, the better we're doing". "They are totally intent on getting Judge Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court come hell or high water".
Ford and Kavanaugh have been invited to testify Monday before the Judiciary panel.
On Kavanaugh, McConnell gave kudos to President Trump for nominating a "stunningly successful individual".