Kavanaugh’s accuser wants FBI probe before she testifies

Christine Blasey Ford wants the FBI to investigate her allegation that she was sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh before she testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing next week, her lawyers said in a letter to the panel. The lawyers wrote that Ford, who is now a college professor in California, wants to co-operate with the committee. But in the days since she publicly accused Kavanaugh of assaulting her at a party 35 years ago, the lawyers said, she has been the target of “vicious harassment and even death threats.” Her family has relocated, they said. An FBI investigation “should be the first step in addressing the allegations,” the lawyers wrote in the Tuesday letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The development came after President Donald Trump showered sympathy on his embattled nominee and as Senate Republicans and Democrats fought determinedly over who should testify at a high-stakes hearing on the allegation just six weeks before major congressional elections. Trump has already rejected the idea of bringing in the FBI to reopen its background check of Kavanaugh. Should he order such a review, it would likely delay a confirmation vote until after the election. In the Senate, the issue of whether, when and if Ford might testify has ignited a furor, especially among Democratic women. Democrats in general are complaining that the process is being rushed, but some women are seeing a deeper - and possibly insidious - narrative, especially if Republicans go ahead with Monday’s hearing without Ford. “A sham hearing would send a very clear message that women are not valued in this country,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “To refuse to treat this properly and try to confirm Judge Kavanaugh at any cost tells women that once again they are not important and they are not to be believed. That you are worth less than a man’s promotion.” Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said she had seen a “callousness from my colleagues that I am totally appalled by,” especially if Republicans press forward with a hearing without Ford. The GOP goal is to have Kavanaugh confirmed by Oct. 1, the start of the next Supreme Court term.