Senate Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have engaged a female lawyer to question Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser – but are refusing to release her name.
The Senate Republicans who oversaw three days of hearings on Kavanaugh are preparing to hand over their normal investigative role int he blockbuster hearing set for Thursday.
Having the lawyer pepper Christine Blasey Ford with questions might spare the Senate Republicans who run the committee of potentially bad optics of having the all male, aging committee members conducting a televised interrogation of a woman claiming assault.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley said he is holding back the name of the female lawyer who will question Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford for the lawyer’s safety
But the identity of the lawyer herself remains a mystery. ‘We aren’t announcing the name for her safety,’ Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley of Iowa told Politico.
Ford’a lawyer, Debra Katz, blasted the decision not to hand over the name of the lawyer – which might allow for better preparation – in an email to Grassley’s chief lawyer.
‘Are there reasons – other than strategic advantage and unfair surprise – that you will not tell us the name of the experienced sex crimes prosecutor?’ Katz wrote, USA Today reported.
‘Are there reasons – other than strategic advantage and unfair surprise – that you will not tell us the name of the experienced sex crimes prosecutor?’ wrote Ford’s lawyer Debra Katz to the committee
Committee counsel Mike Davis also replied that it was ‘for safety reasons’ – although the Capitol has its own police force and has various ways to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries and lawmakers.
Another of Ford’s lawyers, Michael Bromwich, complained: ‘This is not a criminal trial for which the involvement of an experienced sex crimes prosecutor would be appropriate. ‘Neither Dr. Blasey Ford nor Judge Kavanaugh is on trial. The goal should be to develop the relevant facts, not try a case,’ he added.
Republican senators have been told to prepare for a possible floor vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination this weekend. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said if Kavanaugh’s was reported by the Judiciary Committee by Friday, a vote could occur ‘by the first part of next week.’
Judiciary member Sen. Orrin Hatch is even more anxious for a vote. ‘I think it’s going to be pretty hard to move this along without having votes on, certainly Friday and Saturday,’ he said, predicting a weekend work session, BuzzFeed reported.
Christine Blasey Ford is set to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday
Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh will testify in his own defense Thursday, after vigorously denying assault allegations in a Fox News interview
Kavanaugh defended himself in an appearance on Fox News
Democrats plan to ask their own questions of Ford and Kavanaugh.
A day after Kavanaugh proclaimed his innocence and President Trump bashed a second accuser, Debbie Ramirez, Senate leaders were setting a course for a quick vote.
‘I look forward eagerly to hearing from both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh under oath this Thursday morning. I am glad we will be able to hear testimony from both,’ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday in the Senate. ‘And then I look forward to an up-or-down vote on this nomination right here on the Senate floor.’
Trump fired at Kavanaugh’s accusers at the UN on Tuesday, saying Ramirez ‘has nothing’ and was ‘totally inebriated and all messed up’ at a Yale party decades ago where she claims Kavanaugh exposed himself.
Trump called it a ‘ con game being played by Democrats.’
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Tuesday the White House was ‘open’ to having a second accuser, Deborah Ramirez, testify on Thursday. Ramirez claims Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a Yale party decades ago.
Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee on Tuesday called the Ramirez allegation ‘thin,’ and added: ”This is really kind of getting carried away.’ He added: ‘It’s feeling more like a circus.’