Some in GOP call for delay on vote
Senators say they want to hear from accuser
WASHINGTON – A growing number of Republican senators are calling for a delay on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote until they have time to hear from a woman accusing the judge of sexual misconduct when they were both in high school.
Christine Blasey Ford, 51, came forward publicly Sunday with a detailed account in The Washington Post of an incident that took place at a party when she was 15 and Kavanaugh was 17. Ford claims Kavanaugh held her down and tried to remove her clothes while covering her mouth with his hand and leading her to believe that he could “inadvertently kill me.”
USA TODAY does not normally name accusers of sexual assault, but in this case, Ford came forward publicly to detail her allegations.
Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.
In light of the allegations, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he does not think the committee should advance Kavanaugh’s nomination until Ford is heard out.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement Monday that anyone “who comes forward as Dr. Ford has deserves to be heard.” Still, his statement did not address whether the committee would go forward with the nomination on Thursday as planned.
He added that it was “deeply disturbing” that the allegations were “leaked in a way that seemed to preclude Dr. Ford’s confidentiality” and lamented that Ford and Ford’s attorney, Debra Katz, did not directly approach him with the allegations earlier.
During an interview with NBC’s “Today” show, Ford’s lawyer, Debra Katz, said her client was willing to testify.
When asked whether she believed the vote should be delayed, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, told CNN on Sunday, “I think that might be something they might have to consider.”