Grassley To Blasey Ford: Witnesses ‘And Who Will Question Them’ Are ‘Non-Negotiable’

TPM ^ | Sept 23, 2018 | By Matt Shuham

[11th_VA]

A spokesperson for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asserted that some of the remaining conditions to be determined for Thursday’s hearing are “non-negotiable.”

Lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford announced earlier Sunday that she was committed to appearing in an open hearing of the committee to testify about her allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

But the statement from Blasey Ford’s team noted committee Republicans’ refusal to invite other alleged witnesses of the assault to give testimony, and said it was “unresolved” whether “senators or staff attorneys” for the majority would be asking questions at the hearing.

The chairman’s spokesperson appeared to respond to that point Sunday, writing: “I have noted the issues that you raised on the call. But again, as with any witness who comes before the Senate, the Senate Judiciary Committee cannot hand over its constitutional duties to attorneys for outside witnesses.”

“The Committee determines which witnesses to call, how many witnesses to call, in what order to call them, and who will question them,” the Grassley aide wrote.

“These are non-negotiable.”

[grania]

I don't think there's a reason to believe accusations from the past from this point forward. The "me too" movement has been going on for a few years now. Anyone who had an accusation about prior behavior that traumatized them should've announced it to the whole world by now. In my mind, that's a very big reason why the Kavanaugh accusers are not credible.

Let anything from now on be reported in a timely matter so DNA evidence is available and people's memories haven't been "refreshed" by others.

[SaintDismas]

I agree! Like others have mentioned I think Senator Grassley May have his hands tied with that witch from Maine, Corker, Murky, and/or Flake.

[funfan]

She needs to be under oath.

[libertylover]

Would you send a black man to prison for the rest of his life based on a white woman claiming he tried to kiss her 35 years ago? I wouldn’t.

[ridesthemiles]

I was hoping for Judge Jeanne Pirro to do the questioning.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

I have no doubt that Dr. Fraud has been coached to cry during her testimony.....to show that the “mean” Republicans have no heart. GAG.

[bgill]

Depends on if she’ll have to swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But then this isn’t a courtroom.

[Batman11]

That the witnesses must be questioned under oath should also be non-negotiable!!

[arthurus]

What are the odds right now that she will show up? Kavanaugh was supposed to have quit or been withdrawn by now. The horde of new and fantastic accusers is too obvious a ploy and will of themselves gain the Democrats nothing.

[TiGuy22]

I refuse to trash Grassley. He’s doing his damnedest to nail down the necessary votes. I would gladly have him as my Senator.
___

Me too, we’ve got Turbin and Tammy show.

[pfony1]

IMHO, “Doctor” Ford will never testify “under oath”.

[Know et al]

I hope the Republicans hire a female attorney who makes Hillary Clinton look like a sweetheart. I want to see a female attorney who is like a shark who smells blood in the water. Rip her apart. Make her cry.

Judge Pirro?

[pepsi_junkie]

He said that Monday was non negotiable too. Now she’s scheduled for Thursday.

[lakecumberlandvet]

Balsey ain’t gonna show.

[snoringbear]

“They were scared of old white men questioning her...
And now they’re demanding it.
They don’t want a smart woman to do the cross examination and tear her apart.”

Personally, I am doubtful about her testifying. I’m putting the odds at less than 50-50 she will testify. I heard a comment earlier today that stated she is driving from California to DC to testify? Anyone else hear that?

[navysealdad]

She has been on east coast since august

[silverleaf]

She probably wants to call the polygrapher she hired to do the staged polygraph in the attorney’s office

[ratzoe]

I heard a comment earlier today that stated she is driving from California to DC to testify? Anyone else hear that?

Ya know, if Dr.Ford was a republican, the news misleadia(love that term) would have a helicopter following her car as it went across the country. I have seen absolutely nothing in the media reports about her leaving for DC yet. Pretty telling (like we didn't know that) about where the media stands.

[blueplum]

if she is not already in a car or train or saddle, enroute to DC, hold the damn vote and be done with this charade.

[PhiloBedo]

I hope he closes the peanut gallery.