Republican senators are urging the Judiciary Committee to vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in a timely manner amid confusion surrounding whether the woman accusing him of sexual assault plans to testify next week.
Christine Blasey Ford, who goes by Christine Blasey professionally, sent a letter to committee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Tuesday in which she asked for an FBI investigation to occur before her testimony. The hearing had been scheduled to take place next Monday.
She said the investigation would “ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions.”
The committee decided Tuesday to postpone its vote on Kavanaugh in light of Blasey’s allegation that the nominee sexually assaulted her when they were in high school.
But some senators have made it clear that they don’t want to see the vote delayed much longer.
“After learning of the allegation, Chairman Chuck Grassley took immediate action to ensure both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh have the opportunity to be heard, in public or private,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) tweeted Tuesday. “Republicans extended a hand in good faith. If we don’t hear from both sides on Monday, let’s vote.”
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) chimed in Tuesday as well, imploring Blasey to accept the invitation to testify next week “in a public or private setting.”
“The committee should hear her voice,” he said.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a key undecided senator, on Wednesday echoed her GOP colleagues and urged Blasey to testify next week.
Blasey first sent a confidential letter to Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) over the summer in which she detailed the alleged assault. It wasn’t until last week that Feinstein acknowledged the existence of the document, and Blasey came forward in a Washington Post article published on Sunday. She said Monday she was willing to testify.
This article has been updated with Collins’ tweet.