by Tim Pearce
The Senate Judiciary Committee struck back at Democrats Thursday for suggesting Republicans are stifling further investigation into Brett Kavanaugh after he was accused of committing sexual assault in high school.
California researcher Christine Blasey Ford alleged Kavanaugh and one of his friends, Mark Judge, attempted to forcibly take her clothes off while all three were drunk at a party in high school. Ford is calling for an FBI investigation into the incident before she will agree to testify to her charges in front of the Judiciary committee.
Democrat Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse alleged that GOP members of the committee are misdirecting Americans about the committee’s activity relating to an investigation into Kavanaugh. The GOP is “wants to hang Dr. Ford out there on her testimony alone without any benefit of corroborating evidence.”
The reality is that there is no investigative plan, and the #Republicans don’t want one, because they want to hang Dr. Ford out there on her testimony alone without any benefit of corroborating evidence.
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) September 20, 2018
The Senate Judiciary Twitter account fired back in a string of tweets directed at Whitehouse over the allegations, restating the steps the Republican members of the committee has taken in investigating Ford’s claims. Democrats have refused to contribute to the investigation, despite offers from the GOP.
Within hours of learning Dr. Ford’s identity from press reports on Sunday Chairman Grassley took swift action making contact w the alleged witnesses. Dems haven’t joined background investigation of Dr. Ford’s allegations. It's our constitutional duty to do investigations. Join us https://t.co/b2ilr4MRzX
— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) September 20, 2018
Democrats sat on Dr. Ford’s allegations for MONTHS & did nothing. They STILL haven’t turned over the original letter they received from Dr. Ford. Why would Dems sit on allegations for months and then not even participate in the Committee’s investigation?https://t.co/jcNlZcpXn0
— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) September 20, 2018
On Monday, staff interviewed Judge Kavanaugh under penalty of felony. Democratic staff was invited and could have asked any question of Judge Kavanaugh. They declined to participate.
— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) September 20, 2018
Staff contacted Mark Judge and obtained a statement under penalty of felony. Staff contacted third person allegedly at party described by Dr. Ford and obtained a statement under penalty of felony. Staff contacted fourth person allegedly at party.
— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) September 20, 2018
Staff have contacted a schoolmate who claimed on social media this week to have info related to Dr. Ford’s allegations. Committee has not yet heard back.https://t.co/bWw4oGZXjt
— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) September 20, 2018
The committee invited Dr. Ford for bipartisan interview by Republican and Democratic staff to obtain her testimony and any evidence she considers relevant. First reached out on Monday, but her lawyers haven’t agreed to an interview.
— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) September 20, 2018
Her attorneys say there needs to be an investigation, which is exactly what the committee has been doing all week. And we would love to hear from Dr. Ford. Democratic staff is invited to participate fully every step of the way.
— Senate Judiciary (@senjudiciary) September 20, 2018
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Tim Pearce is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation. Follow Tim Pearce on Twitter.
Photo”Chuck Grassley” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0
