Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman says it’s important for the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing to review allegations of sexual assault by Professor Christine Blasey Ford against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh when they were teenagers.
“I don’t know all the details of this allegation that has surfaced nor does anybody here on the hill,” said Sen. Portman in a conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon, “But I do know Brett Kavanaugh. I know him well. And I think as a matter of fairness to both Dr. Ford and to Judge Kavanaugh, I think we need to have a judiciary committee hearing that reviews these allegations, allowing each of them to be heard in a fair and respectful manner.”
In a letter to the Judiciary Committee Tuesday, Blasey Ford’s attorneys asked for an FBI investigation into the matter as “the first step in addressing her allegations.” The letter also says “she has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats.”
NPR reports Republican leaders on Tuesday night decided they will not delay a hearing planned for next Monday. It’s unclear if Ford will testify.
During his conference call Tuesday afternoon, Portman criticized Senator Diane Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, who had knowledge of the accusation in July.
“I think everyone should agree that it is profoundly disappointing that this information was withheld during the process because there was a long and arduous process he’s had to go through already and it should have been raised,” said Portman. “The fact that they didn’t raise it seems very odd to me. I just don’t understand it.”
According to NPR, Feinstein informed the FBI of the allegations but did not go public with the information because Ford had requested anonymity.
Portman met with Kavanaugh last weekend and said the judge was surprised and frustrated.
“Just as he has said publicly, he has no idea what this allegation is about,” said Portman. “He has said publicly that it just didn’t happen.”
