Republicans said Friday that they are rejecting several requests from a woman accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, including that they subpoena a potential witness and…
Republicans said Friday that they are rejecting several requests from a woman accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, including that they subpoena a potential witness and make the Supreme Court nominee testify first.
Staff for Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said in a letter to lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford, Kavanaugh’s accuser, that they are willing to meet her “halfway” and detailing what request from her lawyers they are open to accommodating and those they are not.
“Some of your other demands… are unreasonable and we are unable to accommodate them,” Grassley’s staff wrote in the letter released Friday evening.
Staff for Grassley said Ford’s lawyers wanted them to subpoena Mark Judge, a Kavanaugh classmate whom she has named as a witness to the alleged assault at a high school party in the early 1980s, as well as call other witnesses to testify.
Grassley is rejecting both requests, noting he can’t make subpoenaing a witness a precursor to an agreement.
“You went on television earlier this week and said Dr. Ford wants the chance to tell her story in public and under oath. This is the opportunity we have given her. We don’t need to subpoena additional witnesses to do that,” Grassley’s staff wrote.
Ford also requested that Kavanaugh testify first, something Grassley is also rejecting, according to the letter Friday.
“The accused has the right to respond to allegations that are made about him. Judge Kavanaugh cannot be expected to respond to allegations that have been made to the press,” staff for Grassley said.
The public release of the letter comes as staff for Grassley and Ford’s lawyers have been in a flurry of talks about a potential hearing next week.
The GOP chairman has given lawyers for Ford until 10 p.m. on Friday to reach an agreement.
Grassley’s staff say they have accommodated Ford on several requests including limiting the number of cameras in the room, not allowing Kavanaugh in the room with her and sharing concerns about her safety.
“Capitol Police offers more than adequate security. The Senate hosts the President, Vice President, Cabinet secretaries, heads of state, and other prominent public figures all the time with the necessary precautions,” they wrote.
