Senator Chuck Grassley Gives Christine Ford An Ultimatum

Veteran Washington reporter Jamie Dupree has reported that Senator Chuck Grassley, head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has given Dr. Christine Ford a deadline to let him know whether or not she intends to testify about her allegations of sexual assault against SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Sen Charles Grassley R-IA gives Dr Christine Blasey Ford until Friday at 10 am to say if she will testify on Monday pic.twitter.com/ZI5FGZu5Ed

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) September 19, 2018

Here's the letter itself from Grassley's office:

Dr. Ford had previously indicated that she would be willing to testify in front of the Judiciary Committee. A hearing had been scheduled for Monday, however now Ford is refusing to testify unless the FBI investigates her claims. The problem, of course, is that the FBI and DOJ had already looked into her claims when Senator Dianne Feinstein brought them to their attention in July. The agencies determined that the whole thing is a big nothing burger and have refused to investigate further.

Feinstein and Dr. Ford brought this accusation against Judge Kavanaugh in a cynical attempt to force an indefinite delay in his confirmation hearing. You know it. I know it. The American people know it. Unfortunately for Feinstein and Ford, Senator Grassley knows it as well. This letter is a clear indication that Chuck is done playing their games.

I suspect that Friday's deadline will come and go with Ford still refusing to testify. We'll see a vote on Judge Kavanaugh shortly after that, and he'll be sworn in as a new SCOTUS judge just in time for the midterms.