Supreme Court nominee faces sexual assault allegation

The impasses is broken — sort of.

After days of communicating through sternly worded letters and media appearances, all the relevant parties — Christine Blasey Ford’s attorney, Debra Katz, and both the majority and minority staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee — are now negotiating the details of a public hearing.

Congressional aides briefed on the process say there is still a lot of detail to iron out, but all agree that after last night’s call between the parties, a hearing next week is more than likely. 

But remember: Nothing is set yet – and nothing will be set until Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley gets sign off from the other 10 Republicans on the committee. But all signs are pointing to hearing in the latter half of next week. 

A senior GOP Senate staffer tells CNN that two of Christine Blasey Ford’s conditions for testifying at a committee hearing are non-starters:

It’s important to note that Ford’s team did not draw a “red line” on these issues. They were brought up as requests.  

President Trump just tweeted that his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is “assault by radical left wing politicians.”

Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual assault, and his confirmation hearing has been delayed as the Senate works to possibly hear testimony from his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford.

Here’s the tweet:

Trump followed up with a second tweet saying Ford or her parents would have “immediately filed charges” if the attack, which happened in high school, “was as bad as she says.”

Christine Blasey Ford opened the possibility she would testify before Congress about her accusation of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

An email her lawyers sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee said Ford “would be prepared to testify next week” if the senators offer her “terms that are fair and which ensure her safety.”

Ford’s attorneys and Senate Judiciary Committee aides held a conference call later Thursday, which a source told CNN lasted an hour.

These are the key points Ford’s team raised: 

Our live coverage has concluded for the night. We’ll be back tomorrow.

The biggest concerns raised by Christine Blasey Ford’s lawyer in a conference call with the Judiciary Committee were safety, the Monday hearing date, and the use of outside counsel or lawyer, according to a senior congressional source with knowledge of the call. 

Ford’s team is opposed to the use of outside counsel, which Republicans have spent the past few days talking about hiring to conduct the question portion.

Ford’s lawyer made clear that at no point during any potential hearing could Ford be in the same room as Kavanaugh, the source said.

A second source said she wants Kavanaugh to testify first on the panel before her.

Adding additional witnesses remained a point of dispute, with direct questions over whether (or why not) Mark Judge could testify. The second source said she wants the committee to subpoena Judge and other alleged witnesses.

Ford’s lawyer proposed Thursday as a potential date for the hearing. No commitments were made, but GOP staff plans to report to Grassley, who will then discuss with McConnell/committee members.

The biggest holdup at this point remains the hearing date, the source says, which is actively being negotiated. The second source said her camp proposed a Thursday hearing.

“More problems could arise, and there’s a lot more to iron out, but it was an important first step,” the source said, indicating things are moving toward the hearing happening next week.

As the nomination process of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court has reached a crescendo in the last week, some senators are feeling the heat over what their vote will be more than others.

Maine’s senior senator, Republican Susan Collins, has yet to announce her decision on Kavanaugh’s nomination, and as one of the chamber’s more moderate members she is a crucial vote to watch. Republicans can confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee without any support from Democrats but since the GOP only controls the chamber by 51-49, there is barely any room for Republicans to lose votes from their own ranks. 

And constituents from Maine and beyond are voicing their concerns, as CNN observed from her Bangor office on Thursday.

The two aides who take calls who sit in the cozy office estimated that they receive more than a hundred calls a day on the issue of Kavanaugh’s nomination. 

Keep reading Elizabeth Landers’ report from Bangor, Maine.

A source familiar with the conference call held between Senate Judiciary aides and Christine Blasey Ford’s attorneys said the accuser’s legal team laid out some of its stipulations for testifying before the committee.

One of the chief requests from Ford is that the hearing not happen on Monday.

One show of good faith, the source said, was that Ford’s attorneys have canceled cable news interviews for the evening. That shows all sides are working toward crafting an agreement for the testimony to happen, the source said.

Talks are continuing to have a female attorney to handle the questions that would be asked on behalf of the all male GOP side of the committee, the source added.

The call lasted an hour.

The White House has released a letter from Judge Brett Kavanaugh to Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley on Monday’s hearing, saying “I will be there.”

Here’s what the letter reads in full:

Republicans are looking into bringing in an outside counsel – who is female – to question Christine Blasey Ford if a hearing actually happens, according to a Republican source familiar with the matter.

This could help the GOP overcome its lack of female senators on the committee.

They are still working out the conditions of any hearing – and a hearing is not yet confirmed.

Senate Judiciary Democrats have asked the FBI to investigate threats against Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford since she went public in the matter.

The letter said, “We are increasingly concerned by reports of alleged death threats against her, the hacking of her email, and the harassment and intimidation (she) has faced since being forced into the spotlight late last week.” 

President Donald Trump didn’t respond to questions about whether he would support a delay in the Monday hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

When asked about Christine Blasey Ford’s willingness to testify, Bill Shine answered with a blanket vote of confidence for Kavanaugh.

“We stand behind Judge Kavanaugh 100%,” said Shine, the White House deputy chief of staff for communications, speaking briefly to CNN in the Rose Garden.

He declined to say whether he thought Kavanaugh should testify alone, referring questions to White House counsel’s office.

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker released a joint-statement with Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott on Thursday opposing the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court.

While Walker is an Independent, the statement could be seen as a move to influence Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s vote by tying their opposition to issues that impact Alaska – healthcare, tribal issues and violence against women – an “epidemic” in the state.

Kate DeVarney, a neuroscientist, has known Christine Blasey Ford for around 13 years. They first met in 2005 when they worked at the same company, and soon discovered they had a lot of shared interests and mutual family connections

They live close to one another and see each other frequently. 

In late August, DeVarney tells CNN that she reached out to Blasey Ford to get together. It was in this conversation that DeVarney says Blasey Ford confided in her for the first time about being “sexually assaulted in high school,” without sharing Brett Kavanaugh’s name or other details about who he was. Blasey Ford told her about the letter she had sent to her congresswoman.

“I was blown away by that,” DeVarney said. “What struck me was I could feel and I could sense what turmoil she was in… She was really contemplating what it would mean for the details of this to come out.” 

From their years of friendship, DeVarney already knew that Blasey Ford “really has a hard time being in place where there’s no escape route.” This was the reason that Blasey Ford did not enjoy flying. For Blasey Ford, an airplane was “the ultimate closed space where you cannot get away,” DeVarney said.

In their August conversation, DeVarney said Blasey Ford also told her about how when Blasey Ford and her husband were remodeling their home, “she insisted that every room had to have an exit door to the outside.”

As for Blasey Ford’s allegations against Kavanaugh, DeVarney said she has “absolutely no doubt in my mind” that her friend is telling the truth.

“I don’t believe him,” she said, “because I believe her.”

DeVarney first spoke to the New York Times

Here is the full letter from Ford’s lawyers. Its subject was “Dr. Christine Blasey Ford” and its importance was marked, “High.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell just walked by Capitol Hill reporters in silence, ignoring a host of questions about whether GOP will delay the hearing after Christine Blasey Ford’s attorney said she would testify next week - but not on Monday.

Christine Blasey Ford opened the possibility she would testify before Congress about her accusation of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, but an appearance Monday was “not possible.”

An email her lawyers sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee and obtained by CNN said Ford “would be prepared to testify next week” if the senators offer her “terms that are fair and which ensure her safety,” according to the paper.

The message came a day ahead of a 10 a.m. Friday deadline set by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley for Ford to decide whether she would appear before a hearing he set for Monday. It was first reported by the New York Times.

“As you are aware, she has been receiving death threats, which have been reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and she and her family have been forced out of their home,” the email said. “She wishes to testify, provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and which ensure her safety.”

Kavanaugh has denied the accusation he sexually assaulted Ford while drunk at a party in his high school years and said he would be willing to appear before the committee to refute it. He was at the White House Thursday for the fourth consecutive day, as he prepares for possible testimony.

Ford said in a letter through her lawyers on Tuesday evening she wanted an FBI investigation into the matter before she appeared before the Senate committee tasked with reviewing Kavanuagh’s nomination.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh is in a good state of mind, according to a source who has spoken with him.

He is disappointed and frustrated but wants to testify. The source said he is preparing and that he’s an “even keel “kind of guy.”

Activists walk through the Heart Senate Office Building to the office of Sen. Chuck Grassley during protests against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday.

Activists protesting Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination have gathered outside of Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Senate office. Some of them are now being arrested, CNN’s Sunlen Serfaty reports.

Some of the protesters are chanting, “We believe Anita Hill. We believe Christine Ford.”

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s campaign listed Brett Kavanaugh accuser’s attorneys as headliners at a Washington fundraiser slated to take place next month, according to a copy of the invite obtained by CNN.

Kavanaugh’s accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, is being represented by attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, both of whom are listed as headliners in a “cocktails and conversation” event for Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat who is facing reelection this fall.

People are asked to contribute up to $1,000 to attend the Oct. 1 event, and a source familiar with the matter said it is slated to take place at their law firm, Katz, Marshall & Banks.

After CNN contacted the Baldwin campaign and the attorneys, Katz called CNN to say that the event was being canceled. The invite was sent Thursday morning.

The timing comes at an awkward time as Ford is considering testifying Monday before the Senate Judiciary Committee and allege that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school in the 1980s.

A Baldwin campaign spokesman confirmed the event was canceled.

“The event was scheduled before Dr. Ford made the allegations,” the spokesman said. “Dr. Ford’s lawyers are no longer involved in the event.”

Christine Blasey Ford’s family, including her husband, have put out the following statement on Twitter.

The letter described Ford as a “loyal, reliable, involved family member” and described her dedication to her work and her loved ones.

It continued: “We believe that Chrissy has acted bravely by voicing her experiences from the past, and we know how difficult this is for her.”

A source with knowledge of the matter confirms it is authentic.

Read the full letter:

Sens. Mazie Hirono and Kirsten Gillibrand are accepting a letter signed by more than 1,000 Holton-Arms School alumnae in support of Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

Ford attended Holton-Arms when she alleges that she was assaulted.

Sarah Burgess, a 2005 alumna, said the more than 1,000 women who have signed the letter are grateful that Ford came forward.

Burgess continued: “Dr. Blasey Ford has shown she beyond credible. Sexual assault needs to be taken seriously and there is no way that you can vote on this before we have a thorough and independent investigation.

Watch more:

White House aides who steeled themselves for what President Trump would say when he finally addressed the sexual assault allegation against his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh were quietly stunned when Trump said the process should be followed and the accuser should be heard.

In recent days, Trump has bragged about the positive coverage he’s received for his response, according to multiple sources. That response has contributed to him continuing to say Christine Blasey Ford should come forward with her story, they said.

As of Thursday, officials felt confident Kavanaugh was back on track toward confirmation.

Those who work closely with the President knew he had privately voiced suspicion about the #MeToo movement, complaining that decades-old allegations could ruin men’s lives in an instant. He himself stands accused of various levels of sexual misconduct by 15 women, all of which he has denied.

Two sources familiar with Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination process say the deadline for Christine Blasey Ford to respond to the Senate, as set by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, may not be a hard deadline after all. 

When asked whether Ford could respond after Grassley’s 10 a.m. Friday deadline, both sources said — in an apparent gesture to show flexibility by Grassley’s committee — that may be possible. They notes that she could conceivably respond to the committee later in the day and still have the ability to appear at Monday’s scheduled hearing. 

The sources, however, did not say how long Grassley and others on the committee would be willing to wait for an answer.

Senate Republicans are rejecting Christine Blasey Ford’s request to have outside witnesses testify at Monday’s hearing.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn told CNN this when asked why there would be no outside witnesses:

A spokesman for the Senate Judiciary Committee, George Hartmann, confirmed that the plan is to only allow two witnesses testify — Kavanaugh and Ford, if she agrees.

Ford’s attorneys and Democrats have called for outside witnesses, as was the case in the Anita Hill hearings.

Cornyn also made clear that the GOP will move forward with a vote if she doesn’t appear Monday.

“If she doesn’t want to participate and tell her story, there’s no reason for us to delay. I think it all depends on what she decides to do. We’ve all made clear this is her chance,” he said. “But if she doesn’t want to do that, then we’re going to have a markup.”

CNN just asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell if he had confidence that Brett Kavanaugh would be confirmed.

Protesters and police in the Dirksen Senate Office Building

A group of protestors yelling that they “believe women” are outside of Sen. Bob Corker’s office in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.

The comments are an reference to Christine Blasey Ford’s allegation that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her.

Corker has called on the Senate to move forward with a vote on Kavanaugh if Ford does not testify on Monday. (She has requested the FBI investigate the allegation before she speaks publicly.)

Protesters also gathered in Sen. Susan Collin’s office. The Maine senator has said “it’s not fair” to Kavanaugh if Ford does not testify.

One congressional source with knowledge of the hearing negotiations says that they don’t believe Ford has closed the door entirely on testifying. 

This source says they have interpreted all the back and forth over the last 48 hours as evidence that Dr. Ford simply hasn’t decided or has shown signs of cold feet — but hasn’t closed the door entirely.

They believe that her legal team is just trying to buy her time as she grapples with the decision whether she wants to testify or not. 

Per a committee source, there has been no new communication between Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ford’s team as of late last night.

The only contact they received from Dr. Ford’s attorney’s Wednesday was an email confirming receipt of Grassley’s letter to them.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has set a 10 a.m. Friday deadline for Christine Blasey Ford’s legal team to respond to his request for her to speak to the committee regarding her sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Ford has asked that the FBI investigate before she publicly testifies.

If Ford chooses not to speak to the committee, the hearing Grassley had scheduled for Monday would likely be canceled and the panel could move to vote by midweek, sources say.

When asked if he would go ahead with this hearing without Ford, Grassley responded: “We don’t have any problem with Kavanaugh coming … but we want to make sure it is a fruitful hearing for both sides.”

Meanwhile, some Republicans are urging Ford to speak on Monday. Susan Collins, a GOP senator from Maine who does not sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee but is among the key Republicans who could decide final passage on Kavanaugh’s nomination, urged Ford to testify in whatever format she felt was most appropriate.

Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida

Brett Kavanaugh is facing the confirmation of a lifetime.

Whether Kavanaugh is successfully confirmed has become a question of Senate math. Republicans hold a slim 51-49 majority in the chamber.

And ahead of the midterms, all eyes are on the 10 Democrats running for re-election in states Trump carried in 2016. 

Here’s a look at what undecided Democratic senators from red states are saying:

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley sets a mark-up for “nominations” Wednesday. 

What this means: This would be used for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh if they are ready to vote on him. 

Here’s the notice:

In a new letter, Sen. Chuck Grassley rejected Democratic calls to delay Monday’s hearing so an FBI probe to take place first. He said he is offering Ford “many options” to testify, either in public or in private, in California, or “anywhere else.”

He said a private session would mean the matter would be kept confidential, though he sharply criticized Democrats for releasing other confidential Kavanaugh documents, suggesting that may be way she’s “distrustful” of a closed-door interview.

Grassley accuses Senate Democrats of misconstruing how an FBI background check works. He said the FBI does the background check before a nomination is made, and the White House provides that information to the Senate as a matter of courtesy. “The FBI does not make a credibility assessment of any information it receives with respect to a nominee.”

Grassley also disputed any comparison to the FBI investigation into the Anita Hill allegations against Clarence Thomas. He said in that case, Hill’s allegations were still not public, and the FBI conducted a confidential investigation. In this case, the information is public, “there is no longer a need for a confidential FBI investigation.” He also said then-Chairman Joe Biden “expeditiously” notified the White House at the time of the Hill allegations, unlike Dianne Feinstein who held onto the allegations since July 30.

Grassley says that Kavanaugh sat for a “transcribed interview” on Monday as part of the committee’s background investigation and “understood he was under penalty of felony if he was not truthful.” He added: “We have no reason to doubt the truthfulness of Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony.”

“I am following the same timeline Chairman Biden did after Professor Hill’s allegations were made public,” Grassley wrote. “It would be a disservice to Dr. Ford, Judge Kavanaugh, this Committee, and the American people to delay this hearing any further.”

Christine Blasey Ford’s sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have drawn parallels to Anita Hill’s sexual harassment allegations against Justice Clarence Thomas.

The Senate Judiciary committee was responsible for Thomas’ hearings in 1991 — and it’s responsible for Kavanaugh’s now.

So how does the makeup compare between 1991 and now?

Watch more:

In a radio interview, Sen. Susan Collins pushed back on Professor Christine Blasey Ford’s calls for the FBI to investigate the sexual misconduct allegations before a Monday hearing.

Why this matters: The comments by the moderate Republican are the latest sign that if Ford declines to testify, it could help Kavanaugh’s chances at winning confirmation to the Supreme Court.

Asked about Ford’s request to allow the FBI to investigate first, Collins said:  

“It seems to me that this reverses the normal order of things. First of all, there have already been six background checks of Judge Kavanaugh for the various positions that he has held. … Usually the FBI does not pursue allegations against a nominee that occurred when the nominee was a minor … It seems to me what we should be doing is bringing these two individuals before the committee. … If we need additional help from the FBI, then the committee can ask for it.”

Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat from Alabama who does not sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, defended Professor Christine Blasey Ford’s request for an FBI investigation before she testifies in front of the Senate panel.

Here’s the how part of the exchange CNN had with Jones:

Q: Since there’s a standoff, should Ford appear on Monday?

Jones: “I think Dr. Ford is doing the appropriate thing … I think she needs to have the respect of the committee … it’s unreasonable for the committee to force her hand … I think they (Republicans) jumped the gun on this … I’d like to see an investigation done … the FBI is equipped to do it …” 

Q: If they don’t do the investigation should she show up?

Jones: “I’m going to leave that to her … I’m just absolutely stunned at why the Republicans and the President is opposed to letting the FBI do what the FBI has done … (a background check) … the (FBI) can have this ready for all committee members..” 

Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who is considered one of the key senators who could make or break Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, is encouraging Christine Blasey Ford to testify on Monday.

Ford, who had been expected to testify alongside Kavanaugh at a Monday hearing, said last night that she wants an FBI investigation before she testifies publicly.

Here’s her full tweet:

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley just released a statement repeating that the committee is ready to hear Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony on Monday.

Ford, who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, was invited to testify alongside Kavanaugh at a Monday hearing. However, Ford says she wants an FBI investigation before she testifies publicly.

Grassley sent a letter to Ford’s attorney noting that Ford may choose to testify publicly or privately.

A Senate Judiciary Committee aide said chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley will offer to send staffers to California to interview professor Christine Blasey Ford, if that makes her more comfortable.

The aide said the letter to Ford’s lawyer will be made public soon.

The same aide said a decision on what form Kavanaugh’s testimony will take will depend on whether Ford agrees to cooperate, but they aren’t at the point of locking in any details with regards to Kavanaugh’s testimony.

“If she doesn’t come, there will have to be some kind of decision” as to whether Kavanaugh testifies in public or private, the source said.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh leaves his home September 19, 2018 in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

As questions swirl about whether a public hearing will still go forward Monday if Christine Blasey Ford doesn’t show, Judge Brett Kavanaugh is continuing with prep sessions at the White House today, a source familiar tells CNN.

Kavanaugh wants to be prepared to give his account if Ford does decide to testify without first having an FBI investigation. He has undergone multiple, lengthy practice sessions over the last few days — detailing his teenage years and dating life to his confirmation team after Ford went public with her accusation of sexual assault. 

Another source says Grassley received the letter from Ford’s attorneys requesting an FBI investigation before she testifies minutes before it broke on CNN last night. Grassley is expected to formally respond today or tomorrow, and he is still open to the idea of meeting with Ford in her designated setting, be that public or private, this person with knowledge of his thinking says, but is unlikely to move the date. 

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley told reporters he was trying to get Dr Ford to testify publicly or privately by Monday at the hearing.

Asked by CNN’s Manu Raju why not delay the hearing and let the FBI investigate as Ford wants, he said: Right now, “I’m concentrating on doing everything I can to make sure to make Dr. Ford is comfortable to testify.”

He said: “We are going to reach out to everyone we know about” who knows about the incident.

“I’m not worried about anything else” over the next few days except to get her to testify. Referring to the calls to reopen FBI probe, he said he’s “only focused” on getting her to testify.

Asked by CNN’s Sunlen Serfaty if the hearing would go on with or without Ford, Grassley said: “We don’t have any problem with Kavanaugh coming … but we want to make sure it is a fruitful hearing for both sides.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley listens during a markup hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee September 13, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Senate Judiciary Committee staffers are reaching out to Christine Blasey Ford’s attorneys today to see if she would like to testify in public or private at the Monday session, according to George Hartmann, a spokesman for Sen. Chuck Grassley.

What happens if she doesn’t show? If Ford doesn’t appear Monday, no decisions have been made about next steps, GOP aides and senators said.

Kavanaugh has privately told senators he’s eager to defend himself, so Republicans may allow him to testify by himself about the incident, a GOP source said. But it’s still uncertain if that will happen.

Sen. John Kennedy, a member of the committee, expressed confidence to CNN that Ford may still show Monday and said, “I don’t know” what will happen with the hearing if she doesn’t appear.

Republican senators want to hold a committee vote next week if she stays away.

So far, the committee has conducted a staff-level investigation into the incident. GOP staff interviewed Kavanaugh, who denied the episode. And GOP staff reached out to others mentioned in the Washington Post piece.

Democratic staff have declined to participate, saying the FBI should probe the matter instead.

Sen. Lindsey Graham said the call for an FBI investigation before the Senate holds a hearing on sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is a delaying tactic and not about getting the truth.

Professor Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, and all 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee say the FBI should conduct an investigation prior to a hearing.

Graham just released this statement:

 He added that it’s “imperative” that the Senate committee votes on Kavanaugh soon,

“It is imperative the Judiciary committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination and a committee vote be taken as soon as possible,” he said in a statement.

President Trump stressed his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has already been investigated by the FBI, and downplayed the prospects of an additional probe.

He continued: “They have investigated about six times before, and it seems that they don’t do that,” he told reporters at the White House.

President Trump, leaving the White House this morning, said his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been treated “very, very tough.”

Trump did not express sympathy for Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

However, the President said he’s looking forward to hearing Ford’s testimony. Yesterday, Ford said she wants the FBI to investigate before she testifies before the Senate.

“I really want to see her. I really would want to see what she has to say,” Trump said. “If she shows up, that would be wonderful. If she doesn’t show up, that would be unfortunate.”

Sen. Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, urged his colleagues to move ahead with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation process if the woman who has accused him of sexual assault, Christine Blasey Ford, doesn’t testify on Monday.

Both Ford and Kavanaugh had been invited to testify before a Senate panel on Monday.

But Ford yesterday insisted the FBI should investigate the incident before senators hold the hearing on the allegations.

After the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault insisted the FBI should investigate the incident before senators hold a hearing on the allegations, it’s now up to Republicans to respond.

Here are six ways things could play out:

As Christine Blasey Ford’s lawyers insist the FBI investigate her claims of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh, here is a look back at how the FBI investigation into Anita Hill’s sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas came about.

The woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault says the FBI should investigate the incident before senators hold a hearing on the allegations.

In a letter addressed to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and obtained by CNN last night, Christine Blasey Ford’s attorneys argue that “a full investigation by law enforcement officials will 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.”

So what happens now? Ford’s decision raises the political stakes for Republicans however they choose to respond.

Early signs are that the GOP will press on and try to get Kavanaugh confirmed, effectively bypassing Ford’s demands for an investigation by arguing that they offered her the opportunity to testify and she did not take the chance to have her case heard.

But a quick confirmation vote could expose the GOP to claims it is not willing to initiate a fair process to honor a woman’s accusations against a powerful man. Republicans could decide to permit an investigation — but that path would delay Kavanaugh’s confirmation, possibly for weeks, and leave open the possibility that it could be stalled completely.

Our live coverage of the furor around Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination and the sexual assault allegation that threw it into chaos is concluding for the evening. Stick with CNN Politics for the latest throughout the evening. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow.

In 2015, then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, speaking in a lecture to law students at Washington’s Catholic University of America, joked that his school friends had a “good saying” that they’ve “held firm” to present day:

“That’s been a good thing for all of us, I think,” Kavanaugh said to laughter in the crowd.

The remark came in an otherwise unremarkable address on the role of a judge in calling balls and strikes, but it suddenly found a new audience on Tuesday afternoon when Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted it and asked, “Is this really what America wants in its next Supreme Court Justice?”

The clip surfaced days after the judge, now a nominee to the Supreme Court, was accused of sexual assault while a Georgetown Prep student, throwing his nomination into question.

See it:

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has officially canceled a committee vote on Brett Kavaunagh’s Supreme Court nomination. The vote was scheduled for Thursday.

Here’s the notice on the committee’s website:

Former President George W. Bush told Politico he is standing by his previous comments praising Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his nomination to the Supreme Court was suddenly thrust into question over the weekend.

In the former comments, Bush called Kavanaugh “a fine husband, father, and friend – and a man of the highest integrity” who “will make a superb Justice.”

GOP Sen. Jeff Flake said if Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser Christine Blasey Ford fails to appear at the hearing scheduled for Monday, he would support his party’s push to move forward on a vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination. 

“I think we’ll have to move to the markup,” he tells CNN.

Flake said he’s hopeful Ford will accept the committee’s invitation and speak at the hearing.  

President Trump defended his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying he feels “terribly” for the judge and his family in the wake of sexual assault allegations against him.

“I feel so badly for him that he is going through this to be honest with you. I feel so badly for him. This is not a man that deserves this,” Trump said at a news conference Tuesday. “Honestly I feel terribly for him, for his wife who is an incredible lovely woman. And for his beautiful young daughters. I feel terribly for them.” 

He mentioned Kavanaugh’s accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, once — but not by name. He also did not express any sympathy for her.

“Hopefully the woman will come forward, state her case,” Trump said.

Watch:

Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins have called the possibility that Ford will not testify "puzzling" and "interesting."

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley said Professor Christine Blasey Ford has not yet agreed to appear at Monday’s hearing with Brett Kavanaugh — and she has not responded to requests to do so.

It’s now not clear if the hearing, organized after Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, will actually happen, according to some Hill sources.

Sen. Orrin Hatch told reporters that lawmakers were meeting to figure out next steps — including if the hearing would proceed without Ford.

Here’s what other GOP senators are saying about the uncertainty:

Emerging from a meeting in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office, Sens. Jeff Flake and Lindsey Graham both signaled that the GOP still — at the moment — plans to hold the hearing Monday.

Republicans are pushing for professor Christine Blasey Ford to come, and they are offering her an option to testify in a public or private session, they said.

Sen. John Cornyn also said Ford has the option of a closed or an open session:

Flake, who threatened to vote against Kavanaugh over the allegations, raised concerns about Ford’s unwillingness to testify — a sign that if she opts not to testify it could be enough to swing key GOP votes in the “yes” column. 

Asked if they would delay the hearing, Graham said this: 

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he does not believe the FBI should delve any further into the decades-old sexual assault allegation leveled against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, claiming the FBI does not want to be involved.

“I don’t think the FBI really should be involved because they don’t want to be involved,” Trump said, though he then held open the possibility of the FBI involving itself in the matter. “This is not really their thing.”

President Donald Trump’s comments came as Senate Democrats ramped up calls for the White House to direct the FBI to reopen Kavanaugh’s background investigation before any hearings on the allegation of sexual assault leveled against Kavanaugh over the weekend can proceed. The Senate Judiciary Committee has invited both Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, his accuser, to testify before the committee on Monday.

Trump said Kavanaugh “is anxious” to testify and cast doubt on Ford’s willingness to testify.

“Judge Kavanaugh is anxious to do this. I don’t know about the other party. But judge kavangh is anxious to do it,” Trump said. “We want everybody to be able to speak up and to speak out.”

The President also once again lamented Sen. Diane Feinstein, the top Democrat on the judiciary committee, over her handling of the allegation against Kavanaugh, which she only disclosed last week despite first getting word of the allegation in July.

Ford did not tie her name to the allegation until this past weekend after previously disclosing the allegation anonymously to Democratic lawmakers.

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CNN caught up with Sen. Chuck Grassley outside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office.

When asked about the possibility of adding more witnesses to the hearing, he said: “We’ve had two people that want to tell their story and that’s what we’re going to do – is do what we planned.”

When Anita Hill’s 1991 hearing was brought up, here’s how Grassley responded:

CNN: During Anita Hill, there were multiple witnesses not just the two central characters?

Grassley: “You were talking about history. We are not looking back. We are looking forward.”

CNN: How do you get passed, he said, she said?

Grassley did not respond.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley said today that California professor Christine Blasey Ford has not agreed yet to appear at Monday’s hearing — and she has not responded to requests to do so.

Democrats want to reopen the FBI background check before having a hearing. At this moment, GOP Hill sources say it is uncertain if the hearing will happen.

But key Republican Sen. Susan Collins said it would be puzzling if Ford did not testify on Monday.

“That’s very puzzling to me,” she said about the uncertainty of her appearance. “I’ve said from the beginning that these are very serious allegations and she deserves to be heard. She is now being given an opportunity to come before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions and I really hope that she doesn’t pass up that opportunity.”

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is calling for outside witnesses to testify at Monday’s hearing.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, the committee’s chair, said today that only Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, have been invited to testify.

Here’s Feinstein’s full statement:

After Christine Blasey Ford came forward, Brett Kavanaugh wanted to push for hearings immediately, according to a source familiar with Kavanaugh’s prep sessions.

He wanted to be able to express his point of view and adamantly deny it ever happened. 

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and others cautioned that there was a procedure at the Senate — for staff to reach out to Kavanaugh and Ford for interviews — and that it should be followed, says the source. However, after meeting with the caucus, it was clear that some members wanted the hearings so the decision was made to push forward. 

While no one relishes the idea of more hearings they are not afraid, according to the source. 

The source says Kavanaugh spoke yesterday for an hour with Republican Hill staffers. The source says Kavanaugh was described to him as “resolute and clear” in the session.   

Two sources say that as of last night, however, the committee has yet to hear from Ford or Ford’s lawyer as of last night. 

Sen. Lisa Murkowski — a Republican from Alaska who is considered one of the key senators that could make or break Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation — said she is not sure what to expect during Monday’s hearing, where Kavanaugh and the woman who accused him of sexual assault are expected to testify.

Here’s how part of her exchange with CNN went:

Q: Will this hearing be determinative of your vote?

Murkowski: I can’t say that because I have no idea what to, really what to expect. Next week, my hope is that it will be conducted with a level of respect and integrity for the process and for the people.

Q: Do you believe the allegations are credible?

Murkowski: I think that is exactly why we have this process before the committee to determine that. All I have is what you have, which is the letter that we have, a woman who has come forward. She deserves to be heard, it’s important that her voice and her story is shared, and determinations will be made at that point.

Q: If you think they are credible is there any way you could vote for Kavanaugh?

Murkowski: If…?

Q: If you think her allegations are credible, is there any you could see yourself voting for Kavanaugh?

Murkowski: I think what we need to do, what we all need to do is to not speculate on how she will perform, whether she will credible, whether he will be credible in his response, I think we should allow for the, the committee to assemble, for the individuals to be heard, and then in fairness we should make our determination. Not only based on that particular moment in time, that hearing, but all that we have already heard, some thirty hours testimony in other areas. So this is yet a continuation of a process. Some had hoped it would have been a process that was wrapped up by now, it’s not. Monday will tell us a lot more, and I think that that’s an important part of this nomination process as we look to, to the attributes of this individual.

Sen. Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, weighed in on the optics of having an all-male GOP panel interviewing professor Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

He said both Republican and Democratic senators need to show Ford respect when they question her.

Corker also said he would look at every word of her testimony before making a decision on how to vote.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke on the floor of the Senate this morning, and he began his remarks by talking about about Brett Kavanaugh and the Monday hearing.

McConnell added that Kavanaugh has “unequivocally denied” the allegation that he sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford.

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s car pulled up at the White House this morning. He went into the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Kavanaugh spent more than nine hours at the White House yesterday, huddling behind closed doors with his confirmation team.

An official working closely with his team described Kavanaugh as “shaken, but focused,” with the conversation revolving around “defending his integrity.”

The Republican leader of the Senate Judiciary Committee said on Monday he would hold public hearings after sexual assault allegations emerged against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Also on Monday: The Emmys.

The day’s two big news stories collided on the red carpet.

Sarah Sophie Flicker — the wife of “GLOW” director Jesse Peretz, whose TV show was nominated for several EMMY awards — was dressed to impress in a bright red dress with matching hair accessories. The “Stop Kavanaugh” message on her right arm, however, became the most talked-about accessory of the evening.

Flicker also wrote the US Capitol switchboard number on her arm and displayed the message to the cameras as she walked along the red carpet entering the awards ceremony.

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused him of sexual assault, will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

Eleven Republicans — who are all men — sit on the panel. They are…

Ten Democrats, four of whom are women, also sit on the panel:

The Republican leader of the Senate Judiciary Committee said yesterday he would convene remarkable new public hearings on Monday after sexual assault allegations emerged against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Both Kavanaugh and the woman who has accused him of physical and sexual assault, Christine Blasey Ford, will testify before the panel, setting up a blockbuster event that could decide Kavanaugh’s fate.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh will talk by phone at 5:30 p.m. with Republican staff members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, an aide to the committee and a second source said. 

The members themselves are not taking part in the call.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins just spoke to the media to weigh in on the Judge Brett Kavanaugh sexual assault allegation, and said that the judge “emphatically denied” the accusation when they spoke on Friday after the allegations but before Prof. Christine Blasey Ford’s name was made public.

Asked who she would believe if it became a he said/she said debate, Collins said, “That’s why it’s important that we have testimony under oath, with a lot of questions asked of both of them.”

Here’s the full exchange:

Two women who dated Brett Kavanaugh, one in high school and another in college – both named Maura – released statements praising his character in the wake of this weekend’s sexual assault allegations. One said he “always conducted himself honorably,” while another said he was “respectful, kind and thoughtful.”

Maura Fitzgerald, dated in college: “Brett Kavanaugh and I have been good friends since high school. I dated him in college and he was and is nothing like the person who has been described. He always conducted himself honorably with me at all times when we were together. He was always a perfect gentleman, and I vouch for him completely.”

Maura Kane, dated in high school: “I’ve been friends with Brett Kavanaugh for over 35 years, and dated him during high school. In every situation where we were together he always respectful, kind and thoughtful. The accusations leveled against him in no way represent the decent young man I knew. We remain good friends and I admire him as a husband, father and professional.”

Earlier today Grassley’s spokesman tweeted, “The FBI’s background investigation (BI) of Judge Kavanaugh is closed.” 

Sen Feinstein and other Democrats are calling on the FBI to investigate the allegation now that Christine Blasey Ford has come forward.

The FBI has declined to comment beyond what it said last week, that the FBI had received the letter referred by Senator Feinstein on the night of September 12, and “included it as part of Judge Kavanaugh’s background file, as per the standard process.”

An FBI official also told CNN last week that Kavanaugh was not under criminal investigation from the letter.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is speaking form the Senate floor. He said the Democrats sat on the sexual assault allegation against Brett Kavanaugh and accused them of waiting until the “11th hour” before Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote to bring it up.

“It is an accusation which the ranking member of the committee of jurisdiction has known about for at least six weeks. Known about for six weeks. Yet chose to keep secret until the 11th hour,” he said.

McConnell did not answer questions as he left the Senate floor, including:

President Trump, speaking at a workforce event, took questions about his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, who has been accused of sexual assault.

Trump defended Kavanaugh as “one of the finest people I have ever known.”

“Never had even a little blemish,” Trump said. “He is somebody very special.”

The President suggested that a delay in the vote to confirm Kavanaugh might be OK.

“If it takes a little delay, it will take a little delay,” Trump said. “It shouldn’t, certainly, be very much.”

Sen. Orrin Hatch told CNN that he spoke with Brett Kavanaugh for about 10 minutes.

The Republican senator said Kavanaugh told him that his accuser may be mistaking him for someone else. The Supreme Court nominee also told Hatch that he wasn’t even at the party in question.

Hatch said there should be a public hearing, which he thinks could happen Thursday on the same day as the committee vote.

He said he does not want Kavanaugh to withdraw.

Christine Blasey Ford’s neighbor said she’s “really proud” of her neighbor for “standing up and telling her truth.”

Catherine Ferandin’s parents have lived in the house across from the Fords for 55 years. Since Ferandin grew up in the house, she has known the Fords as neighbors for years.

She said she hasn’t spoken to Blasey Ford in a few months, but did see her briefly a few days ago and only said hello.

Ferandin said she was surprised by the news, only because “you never expect it to be somebody in your world.”

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More than 200 alumnae from the Maryland school Christine Blasey Ford attended at the time she alleges she was assaulted by By Brett Kavanaugh have signed a letter supporting her.

The alumnae from Holton-Arms School in Bethesda span from 1967 to 2018.

Sarah Burgess, a 2005 alumna, drafted the letter and circulated it via alumni networks, she said. She told CNN that she was inspired to write the letter after reading about Blasey Ford’s experience.

Burgess said the letter has already received several hundred signatures. Burgess said she believes the signatures are accurate because they have asked signers to share their class year and school email when signing the petition, shared through a google document form.

She said they plan to release the letter publicly “as soon as we can.”

Senate Republicans will move ahead in trying to schedule staff calls with Judge Brett Kavanaugh, his accuser Christine Blasely Ford and Mark Judge, who Ford claims was in the room at the time of the alleged assault

Republicans hope to have the calls either today or tomorrow. But Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, said her staff will not participate.

Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley’s spokesman Taylor Foy said Grassley — who is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee — will make a decision on next steps and whether to have a hearing after that phone call.

The phone call could happen as early as today.

Senate Republicans maintain that it is not up to the FBI to handle this, the supplemental background check has been closed.

Congressional sources “hope” that they can still have a committee vote on Thursday, but recognize that might slip.

Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman for the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a statement Monday where he pointed to the standard procedure for updating nominee’s background checks.

Grassley goes on to say they are “working diligently to get to the bottom of these claims,” but does not make any indication about the possibility of delaying the vote.

Two red-state Democrats — both up for re-election — have called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to give Judge Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, the chance to testify.

Sen. Joe Manchin, from West Virginia, tweeted: “Professor Christine Blasey Ford deserves to be heard and Judge Kavanaugh deserves a chance to clear his name.”

Similarly, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, from North Dakota, issued a statement saying the allegation “should be thoroughly investigated.”

Both Kavanaugh and Ford have indicated willingness to testify before the committee.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a key voice and vote on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, just tweeted that the judge and his accuser, Professor Christine Blasey Ford, “should both testify under oath before the Judiciary Committee.”

The demand sets up a potentially explosive hearing that could derail, or at least delay, Kavanaugh’s suddenly tenuous confirmation to the Supreme Court.

See the tweet:

President Trump and his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, aren’t scheduled to meet while the judge is at the White House today, per two officials. 

Kavanaugh arrived at the White House earlier today. CNN’s White House team believes he’s still there.

Later today, the conservative political organization Judicial Crisis Network will announce a huge ad campaign to support Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley want –- and plan –- to move forward with Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation as it currently stands.

Why? They are too far along in this process not to -– and both think very highly of him, especially after his hearings last week. To pull him would throw confirmation of anyone past the midterm elections, and create all sorts of new potential hurdles at a time when the Senate isn’t guaranteed to be in Republican hands in the next Congress.

Always remember: For McConnell, the courts, and SCOTUS above all else, trumps everything. One need only look back at 2016 for evidence of that. 

That said: This is a vote-counting game, period. If they can get the GOP conference comfortable with Kavanaugh in the next 72 hours, they will move forward. It’s now a matter of what it will take to get to that point. Phone calls with Kavanaugh and the accuser? A private face to face with one or both? A public hearing? Those are the dynamics being discussed at the moment.

The final option -– a public hearing -– is what Democrats are calling for and the accuser’s lawyer is saying she is willing to do. That would not be the preference of GOP leadership at the moment, aides say. But if it turns out that is necessary to address the concerns of those like Sens. Jeff Flake and Bob Corker, then they may have no other choice.

In other words, what matters is what individual Republican senators say they need to be satisfied. If those concerns can be addressed, things will stay on track –- whether this week or in the weeks ahead. If they can’t, then and only then are there real problems for Kavanaugh.

Again, this is about GOP votes and comfort with the nominee. Barring some sudden change of heart by Kavanaugh (and given his latest statement, that seems not at all likely) or the White House (same) that, and only that, will dictate what happens next.

The timing: We likely won’t get a clear view of all of that until senators come back for votes this evening. 

Judge Brett Kavanaugh is at the White House meeting with the White House legal team to prepare for potential interviews or questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to a source familiar.

Brett Kavanaugh is at the White House this morning. He arrived at 10:07 a.m. ET.

He also just released this statement denying the alleged sexual assault:

Debra Katz, the lawyer for a woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, said Monday that her client would be willing to testify in public to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“The answer is yes,” Katz, who represents Christine Blasey Ford, said on CNN’s “New Day.”

Ford’s willingness to testify before Congress marks both a major development from a woman previously reluctant to face the brunt of public scrutiny and a significant pressure point on Kavanaugh’s nomination, which could decide the balance of the nation’s top court for a generation.

See it:

A woman accusing Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct more than 30 years ago came forward publicly Sunday, detailing her allegations about the Supreme Court nominee in an interview with The Washington Post.

The paper said Christine Blasey Ford, a professor in California, reached out to the Post in July as Kavanaugh’s name appeared on short lists to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, but she opted not to speak with the Post on the record for weeks.

The Post said California professor Christine Blasey Ford originally contacted her representative in the House, California Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo, whose office sent her letter to Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein.

A person familiar with Ford’s story said that at around the time she sent Eshoo the letter, Ford discussed with friends how she might go public with her story. Over the past few months, Ford has felt pressure on a personal level to share her story and has grappled with the idea, which partly prompted the letter, the source said. 

Then, as her private outreach to California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein became public over the past week, she decided to go ahead and speak out herself, Sunday’s report said.

In a statement on Friday, Kavanaugh denied the reported allegations that while at a party during his time in high school, he pushed a woman into a room, locked the door to the room along with another male and tried to take off the woman’s clothes. 

The White House has reiterated that it believes him. “On Friday, Judge Kavanaugh ‘categorically and unequivocally’ denied this allegation. This has not changed. Judge Kavanaugh and the White House both stand by that statement,” White House spokesperson Kerri Kupec said in a statement.

Asked how Kavanaugh is doing since the allegation came forward, a source close to Kavanaugh says, “He remains steadfast in his denial and is determined not to let a single, unverified allegation overshadow his long judicial record and his lifetime of public service. He is buoyed by the immediate outpouring of support from lifelong friends, including 65 women who knew him in high school and signed a letter on Thursday attesting to his character after initial news reports of the allegation.”

Sen. Jeff Flake

Three Republican senators have weighed in on postponing a vote on Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination until they hear more from the woman accusing Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

Sens. Jeff Flake and Bob Corker both say the Senate Judiciary Committee should not vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination until they talk to his accuser, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the committee might have to consider delaying the vote, according to reporting by CNN and other news organizations.

Sen. Jeff Flake: “I’ve made it clear that I’m not comfortable moving ahead with the vote on Thursday if we have not heard her side of the story or explored this further,” the Arizona senator told the Post. Flake did not say to the Post what form the communication with Ford should take or how he plans to vote. He told Politico, “We need to hear from her. And I don’t think I’m alone in th

Why they matter: Senate Republicans hold a 51-49 majority and cannot afford two or more Republicans voting against Kavanaugh’s nomination unless they pick up votes from Democrats. Alaska’s Murkowski and Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins are two key GOP swing votes. Flake sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee and was the first Republican to join Democrats in urging a delay in the committee vote.

CNN was not provided a copy of the letter sent to Feinstein, but a source who had the letter read the contents of a redacted version to CNN, in which California professor Christine Blasey Ford detailed her allegations of sexual assault.

She wrote to Feinstein that had “received medical treatment regarding the assault” and said she expected it to remain confidential as she felt compelled to say something.

The letter, as read to CNN, said the woman had “not knowingly seen Kavanaugh since the assault,” but had seen the other person once, and that he “was extremely uncomfortable seeing me.”

“It is upsetting to discuss sexual assault and its repercussions, yet I felt guilty and compelled as a citizen about the idea of not saying anything,” the letter read.

Going through the allegation she had made in her letter, Ford told the Post that Kavanaugh and his friend were drunk at the time and that he put his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream.

“I thought he might inadvertently kill me,” Ford said. “He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing.”

Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser now has a name, and the Republican Party’s bid to swiftly lift him onto the Supreme Court seems to be spinning out of control.

The emergence of California professor Christine Blasey Ford unleashed a frenetic sequence of events Monday that threatened to unravel the confirmation process of President Donald Trump’s nominee, who had seemed on a smooth glide path to becoming the man to enshrine a conservative majority for a generation.

Democrats demanded that Kavanaugh’s confirmation process should be put on hold pending an investigation. Even some Republicans conceded the issue needed to be addressed before things go further. A planned vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday on the nomination now appears to be at some risk of slipping.

Ford’s gambit looked set to provoke the kind of spectacle triggered by attorney Anita Hill’s harassment claims against Clarence Thomas during his confirmation process in 1991. If so, it will elevate the debate on Kavanaugh from a Washington squabble to a national zeitgeist moment.

The showdown will unfold amid the still-unsettled politics of the #MeToo movement, which has transformed the way allegations by women of sexual harassment by now-powerful men, even from decades ago, are viewed by society. But it also takes place at a pivotal moment for the conservative movement, which is within reach of a goal it has pursued for decades of cementing a majority on the Supreme Court at a time of key rulings on issues like abortion, same-sex marriage and the role of religion in American life.

Keep reading.