By Kevin Daley
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina called for an investigation Sunday of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s management of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations, accusing Democrats of handling her accusations so as to inflict maximum damage on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Graham’s comments are significant as he may become chair of the Judiciary Committee in January, should Republicans retain control of the Senate.
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“The FBI will do a supplemental background investigation, then I’m going to call for an investigation of what happened in this committee,” Graham told George Stephanopoulos on ABC News. “Who betrayed Dr. Ford’s trust? Who in Feinstein’s office recommended Katz as a lawyer? Why did Ms. Ford not know that the committee was willing to go to California?”
“We’re going to do a wholesale, full-scale investigation of what I think was a despicable process to deter it from happening again,” he added. (RELATED: Kavanaugh Girlfriend Denies 1998 Assault Described In Anonymous Letter, NBC Report)
Sen. Lindsey Graham tells @GStephanopoulos he's going to call for an investigation into "a despicable process," including "who in Feinstein's office" referred Christine Blasey Ford to her attorney Debra Katz and "who betrayed Dr. Ford's trust" https://t.co/plKvncoC3D #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/cR1ZLelPQF
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 30, 2018
During Thursday’s hearing, Blasey Ford testified that she did not consent to the release of a letter conveying her allegations, which was in the possession of her congresswoman, Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, raising the prospect that committee Democrats leaked it to the press in some capacity. Blasey Ford herself was in contact with a Washington Post reporter, though other outlets reported on the letter’s existence before a definitive account of the allegations appeared in WaPo on Sept. 16.
She also testified that Feinstein’s office helped her retain counsel and that she was unaware the committee was willing to question her near her home in California, as she may have preferred.
Debra Katz, Lisa Banks, and Michael Bromwich are representing Blasey Ford.
The FBI is currently investigating Blasey Ford’s claims, as well as those of Deborah Ramirez, who accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her while she was drunk and incapacitated. The probe will conclude no later than Friday.
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