Republicans and Democrats continued to spar over timing for when Judge Kavanaugh’s accuser will testify to the Senate, with Democrats on Friday objecting to the GOP’s latest offer of Wednesday and demanding “a little compassion.”
Christine Blasey Ford has said she won’t be ready to talk until Thursday and she should be given the chance to set her own schedule, said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.
Republicans, having already pushed the process back from this week to next week, signaled they would be open to another short delay by postponing Monday’s hearing in favor of Wednesday.
That concession wasn’t acceptable to Ms. Feinstein.
“It’s just an extra day, why not wait 24 hours?” she said. “Republicans should show a little compassion.”
In a letter, the 10 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee including Ms. Feinstein warned Republicans against prejudging the case. They pointed to Republicans who have concluded Ms. Blasey Ford was “mixed up” in her accusation that Judge Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her when they were both high school students in the 1980s.
“These shameful attacks show why it is so difficult for survivors of sexual assault to come forward,” said the Democrats.
Some of those who signed the letter complaining about GOP lawmakers’ premature conclusions have themselves already announced their own belief that Ms. Blasey Ford is telling the truth, effectively rejecting Judge Kavanaugh’s chance to refute her.
Given those prejudgements and deep divisions, some analysts have questioned whether a public hearing will produce any more clarity.
GOP leaders, meanwhile, have vowed Judge Kavanaugh will end up sitting on the Supreme Court soon.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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