The GOP's Disgusting Crusade to Discredit Dr. Christine Blasey Ford Questioning and Criticizing Dr. Blase
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To: Interested Parties From: NARAL Pro-Choice America Date: September 19, 2018 In Their Own Words: The GOP’s Disgusting Crusade to Discredit Dr. Christine Blasey Ford After Dr. Christine Blasey Ford bravely spoke out about allegations of Brett Kavanaugh’s sexual assault, Senate Republicans have launched a full-fledged attack on Dr. Blasey Ford, offering textbook examples of how not to treat survivors of sexual violence. Throughout the nomination process, Senate Republicans have desperately tried to paint Brett Kavanaugh as an “ally to women” to downplay the very real threat he poses to Roe v. Wade. But by attacking Dr. Blasey Ford, they have reached a new low. As Anita Hill said in a recent op-ed, “The weight of the government should not be used to destroy the lives of witnesses who are called to testify.” The statements below range from insulting Dr. Blasey Ford to blaming the victim by empathizing with Kavanaugh, following a playbook we’ve seen used before. They are further proof that the GOP is putting Dr. Blasey Ford on trial and trying to undermine, intimidate, and shame her because they realize Brett Kavanaugh’s long history of lying destroys his credibility. He is simply unfit to serve and his nomination must be withdrawn. Questioning And Criticizing Dr. Blasey Ford Trump said it’s “very hard for me to imagine anything happened” along the lines of Dr. Blasey Ford’s allegation. He said: "Look: If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that'll be very interesting, and we'll have to make a decision, but … very hard for me to imagine anything happened.” [Twitter, 9/19/18] Sen. Grassley said that he doesn’t know why Dr. Blasey Ford would need more time to prepare to testify. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said on Tuesday that a woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault hasn't confirmed that she will testify publicly next week. Grassley told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that his staff had reached out to Christine Blasey Ford, Kavanaugh’s accuser, over the past 36 hours but was still waiting for a response..."I don't know why you would need more time. She wants to talk to us. She told us she wanted to talk to us and you think the sooner the better," Grassley said. [The Hill, 9/18/18] VIDEO: Orrin Hatch: “Somebody’s mixed up… I think she’s mistaken.” Orrin Hatch said in an interview aired on CNN, “I talked to him on the phone today. … He didn’t do that and he wasn’t at the party. There’s clearly — somebody’s mixed up… he’s a very strong, decent man.” When asked “do you believe him?” Hatch answered with an emphatic scoff, “yeah, I sure do.” When asked if he believed the accusers, Hatch answered “I think she’s mistaken, I think she’s mistaken something. But I don’t know, I don’t know her.” [Twitter, 9/17/18] Hatch: “The problem is, Dr. Ford can’t remember when it was, where it was, or how it came to be… There are some gaps there that need to be filled. [Twitter, 9/18/18] Grassley on Dr. Blasey Ford: “Why would you hire a lawyer back in August?” [Hugh Hewitt, 9/18/18] Lindsey Graham asked of Dr. Blasey Ford, “why did she pay for a polygraph in August and why did she hire a lawyer in August...And who paid for” the polygraph? On Fox News, Graham said, “Here’s what I want your audience to know: If Ms. Ford really did not want to come forward, never intended to come forward, never planned to come forward, why did she pay for a polygraph in August and why did she hire a lawyer in August if she never intended to do what she is doing?... And who paid for it?” [The Hill, 9/18/18] John Cornyn said, “The problem is, Dr. Ford can’t remember when it was, where it was, or how it came to be. There are some gaps there that need to be filled.” [Twitter, 9/18/18] Mitch McConnell spoke dismissively of Dr. Blasey Ford’s story: “an accusation of 36-year-old misconduct, dating back to high school” brought up in an irregular manner.” McConnell said in a floor speech, “This is what the Senate has considered for the past 70 days. In the Senate and around the country, almost everyone who went into this process with an open mind – who was prepared to give Judge Kavanaugh a fair hearing – has come away impressed. But now, an accusation of 36-year-old misconduct, dating back to high school, has been brought forward, at the last minute, in an irregular manner. It is an accusation which Judge Kavanaugh has completely and unequivocally denied.“ [Majority Mitch McConnell press release, 9/17/18] Grassley criticized Dr. Blasey Ford for not sending the letter to him and claimed he would have shared a letter like Dr. Blasey Ford’s with the whole committee earlier. Grassley criticized Feinstein for not sharing Dr. Blasey Ford’s letter earlier in the nomination process, though he acknowledged that she did not share the letter due to the wishes of Dr. Blasey Ford: We wouldn’t have needed a public hearing, like we’re going to have Wednesday [crosstalk] if Senator Feinstein had shared with me, or better yet Dr. Blasey had sent it to the chairman of the committee instead of the ranking member, we would have investigated this thing in July or early August and we could have done all the background work that needed to be done to fill in what the FBI did not gather for us.” [Hugh Hewitt, 9/18/18, audio begins around 19 minutes] Grassley expressed doubt that Dr. Blasey Ford would attend the hearing he scheduled on Monday. In an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Grassley frequently called into question whether or not Dr. Blasey Ford would show up to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Grassley said, “We have reached out to her in the last 36 hours three of four times by email, and we’ve not heard from them, so it kind of raises the question do they want to, do they want to come to the public hearing or not?” He also said, “I would surely hope she'd come Monday. I mean, look at all the details she put in the Washington Post. She’s surely prepared. She hired a lawyer, I understand, back in August. Why would you hire a lawyer back in August?” [Hugh Hewitt, 9/18/18; Twitter, 9/18/18] Strong-Arming Dr. Blasey Ford Into Testifying Without Support Or A Thorough Investigation Sen. Grassley said that Dr. Blasey Ford is “not in a position to make conditions” about if and when she testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee. When asked earlier in the day if Republicans would consider allowing her to postpone testimony until an investigation was opened and completed, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of Republican leadership and member of the Judiciary Committee, said, “She’s not in really a position to make conditions in my view.” [NBC News, 9/19/18] Sen. Collins proposed that Kavanaugh’s attorney be allowed to cross-examine Dr. Blasey Ford. In a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Collins wrote: “I respectfully recommend that you invite the attorneys retained by Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh to pose questions during the hearing. Dr. Ford’s attorney would be permitted to question Judge Kavanaugh, and Judge Kavanaugh’s attorney would question Dr. Ford. Each approach would provide more continuity, elicit the most information, and allow an in-depth examination of the process.” [Twitter, 9/18/18] Sen. Graham claimed Dr. Blasey Ford’s request for a full FBI investigation of the sexual assault allegations “is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections.” In a tweet, Graham wrote: “Requiring an FBI investigation of a 36 year old allegation (without specific references to time or location) before Professor Ford will appear before the Judiciary Committee is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections.” [Twitter, 9/19/18] Sen. Cornyn said the Judiciary Committee wouldn’t call other witnesses: “We don’t want this to be a three-ring circus.” According to Fox News, Cornyn said the committee’s refusal to call other witnesses was because: "We don't want this to be a three-ring circus. We want this to be an orderly and dignified presentation." [Twitter, 9/18/18; Twitter, 9/18/18] Sen. Grassley said it wasn’t necessary for the Senate to give Dr. Blasey Ford a full investigation, “you’re talking about history. We’re not looking back. We’re looking forward.” His comments came in response to a question about why he wouldn’t call more witnesses to testify, as the Senate did in the Anita Hill hearings. [Twitter, 9/18/18] Sen. Corker pushed for the Senate Judiciary Committee to rush to vote on Kavanaugh if Dr. Blasey Ford doesn’t testify at the proposed Monday hearing. He wrote on Twitter: “After learning of the allegation, Chairman @ChuckGrassley took immediate action to ensure both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh have the opportunity to be heard, in public or private. Republicans extended a hand in good faith. If we don’t hear from both sides on Monday, let’s vote.” [Twitter, 9/19/18] Senate Republicans said they intend to go forward with a vote on Kavanaugh if Dr.