Senators Orrin Hatch and Charles Grassley, both now in their mid 80s, were there for the Clarence Thomas hearings, and they bullied Anita Hill. Forty-one Republicans and 11 Democrats voted to give Clarence Thomas a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. Now, they’re bullying Christine Blasey Ford.
In addition to cutting the parameters to when Ford can testify, other actions include announcing that they’re not conducting an FBI investigation, rushing to move forward within time to confirm Brett Kavanaugh by October, and Ford has been blamed for being confused about her own story.
Hatch suggested Ford might be “mixed up” about her accusation of sexual assault, and he said that even if Kavanaugh assaulted Ford, he should still be a confirmed: “If that was true, I think it would be hard for senators to not consider who the judge is today. Is this judge a really good man And, by any, measure he is.”
When Grassley was asked about more witnesses being able to testify about the alleged sexual assault of Ford, like it was with Hill, Grassley said, “You’re talking about history. We’re not looking back. We’re looking forward.” He also defended Kavanaugh against allegations of sexual abuse by saying, “I’d hate to have someone ask me what I did 35 years ago.”
Of Hill, Hatch claimed she was confused about who committed the sexual harassment. He also accused her of using details from “The Exorcist” to add to her story and said: “Her story’s too contrived. It’s so slick it doesn’t compute.”
Grassley also accused special interest groups of coaxing Hill to attack Thomas’s character. But he’s had a long dispute with what he believes in appropriate history to record, as he’s spent a great deal of energy fighting The History Channel.
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The White House has been said to go full steam ahead on the nomination. The Senate, made up of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats, would need 50 votes, at minimum, to confirm Kavanaugh.
Earlier this week, Grassley said: “The invitation for Monday still stands for Ford to testify. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.”
Reportedly, Grassley is now consulting with his colleagues about Ford’s requests for a plan to testify later in the week with safety precautions in place.
Ford has received harassment and death threats since her name was released and has been forced to relocate her family. There are also reports that she has concerns about being in rooms without an “escape route” and is very conscious of exits in rooms.
Meanwhile, Kavanaugh didn’t acknowledge Ford’s current request, as he said, in a statement, that he looks forward to the hearing on Monday to clear his name.
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