Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dianne Feinstein is rejecting efforts by Chairman Chuck Grassley to hear from Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct during high school, in an open hearing Monday.
"Chairman Grassley said today there would be only two witnesses invited to testify at the Kavanaugh hearing next week on sexual assault allegations. Compare that to the 22 witnesses at the 1991 Anita Hill hearing and it's impossible to take this process seriously," Feinstein released in a statement. "What about other witnesses like Kavanaugh's friend Mark Judge? What about individuals who were previously told about the incident? What about experts who can speak to the effects of this kind of trauma on a victim? This is a another attempt by Republicans to rush this nomination and not fully vet Judge Kavanaugh."
Feinstein, who keeps releasing bombastic statements, has turned down a number of media interviews in recent days and has not spoken publicly about Ford's accusation.
Grassley said during an interview with Salem Radio host Hugh Hewitt Tuesday morning that Ford, despite multiple attempts, has not responded to requests for testimony on Monday. Kavanaugh has accepted the invitation to testify.
"We still haven't heard from Dr. Ford, so do they want to have the hearing or not?" Grassley said during an interview with Salem Radio host Hugh Hewitt Tuesday morning. "We have reached out to her in the last 36 hours, three or four times by email and we have not heard from them. It kind of raises the question do they want to come to the public hearing or not? The reason we're having the public hearing is obviously, well number one, accusations like this deserve consideration and looking into and that's what the purpose of the hearing is. We wouldn't be having the hearing if Dr. Ford told the Washington Post and other people publicly she wanted to testify."
