Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, has said she ‘can’t say’ whether Christine Ford’s allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh are true, and blames Republicans for Ford’s reluctance to testify in Congress.
Feinstein first revealed Ford’s allegation that Kavanaugh has sexually assaulted her in the 1980s late in the confirmation hearings process, six weeks after receiving a letter from Ford.
Ford has not responded to invitations to testify before the Judiciary Committee on Monday, with her lawyer now saying that she wants the FBI to investigate the allegation before she appears.
Feinstein appeared to fumble in a comment to Fox News as she left her Senate office on Tuesday saying: ‘This is a woman who has been profoundly impacted by this. Now, I can’t say everything’s truthful. I don’t know.’
Feinstein talks to reporters about the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday. She appeared to fumble when she said ‘I can’t say everything’s truthful’
Feinstein also believes Republicans on the committee have done a poor job reaching out to Ford, though.
‘I have no say, I’m the lead Democrat. … I think it’s really too bad that no one called her, or called her lawyer,’ Feinstein said. ‘My understanding is she got emails.’
Feinstein continued: ‘This is a woman who has been profoundly impacted by this. Now, I can’t say everything’s truthful. I don’t know. But I do know that you’ve got to contact her lawyers.’
‘I hope that people will let her be, and I hope that her lawyers will let her come back and straighten this out,’ Feinstein said as she left her Senate office late Tuesday.
She also told Fox News that, if Ford doesn’t testify, ‘I can’t tell you what impact’ there would be on Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Kavanaugh is seen testifying in confirmation hearings earlier this month. He has agreed to return and respond to Ford’s allegations, but she will likely not appear as called on Monday
On Twitter, Feinstein backtracked on her comment that she ‘can’t say everything’s truthful’.
‘During every step of this process, I’ve found every single piece of information from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford eminently credible, sincere and believable,’ Feinstein wrote. ‘She knew this would have a huge effect on her life and she was incredibly brave to come forward.’
Ford’s reluctance to testify until the FBI investigates means her appearance in the Senate is unlikely.
None of her allegations appear to constitute federal crimes, and the FBI has already reviewed her claim and found no basis to open a federal investigation.
Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford (above) wants to wait for an FBI investigation before she agrees to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee
While the FBI conducts background checks on presidential appointees, experts say the extent of their involvement has been to include Ford’s letter in Kavanaugh’s background file and forward it to the White House.
Without Ford’s testimony, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee may well move forward with a vote.
‘If she does not come on Monday, we are going to move on and vote on Wednesday,’ Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a member of the committee, told Fox News on Tuesday evening.