By Sheetal Sukhija, Afghanistan Sun
21 Sep 2018, 07:40 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, U.S. - It has been less than a week since 51-year-old research psychologist from northern California, Christine Blasey Ford publicly identified herself as the woman who levelled accusations of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh, the man who is fighting hard to win a lifetime appointment as a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Ford has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her during their teenage years and spoke about the allegations publicly for the first time on Sunday in an interview with The Washington Post.
Since then, her accusations have been closely scrutinized and have jeopardized the confirmation process of Trump's nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Now, amid calls for Ford to testify, the woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, has said that she is willing to testify next week.
However, Ford has signalled that she would not testify on Monday as Republicans have demanded.
A report in the Guardian, which was first quoted by the New York Times said that Ford had written an email to the Senate judiciary committee, which quoted her lawyers as saying that Ford wishes to testify, provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and which ensure her safety."
The email, a copy of which the Guardian said it had seen, reportedly said that a Monday hearing is not possible and the committees insistence that it occur then is arbitrary in any event.
The report further noted that Ford's lawyers stressed that she is willing to cooperate but would prefer that the committee allow for a full investigation prior to her testimony."
After Ford's identify as the woman who accused the Supreme Court nominee was made public, an uncertainty regarding Kavanaughs nomination took hold.
The revelations that followed further locked the committee in a stalemate over the need to hold a high stakes public hearing with the accuser and the accused.
Now, Ford's statement comes after the Senate has faced demonstrations outside its office building of people protesting against Republicans handling of the situation.
Separately, the office of the judiciary committee chairman, Chuck Grassley, saw over 100 people marching with raised fists, holding a sit-in over the issue.
Subsequently, Grassley announced that he is planning a hearing on Monday and said that both Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford have been invited to the hearing.
However, Democrats have stood by Ford's demand that the FBI first investigate her account before a hearing is held.
However, Republicans have refused the demand.
Grassley has reportedly given Ford until 10 am on Friday morning to confirm if she will testify.
Ford's agreement to testify and subsequent demands seeking her safety that came on Thursday, were seen as her response to Grassley's statement.
Here are the accusations that Christine Blasey Ford has made against Brett Kavanaugh.
Get a daily dose of Afghanistan Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Afghanistan Sun.
More InformationDiehard jihadists have blocked roads out of the last scrap of their Islamic State group "caliphate" in Syria, US-backed forces ...
Sexual violence in South Sudan has been rampant, prompting a call from the UN human rights office, OHCHR, for urgent ...
CO. ARMAGH, Northern Ireland - An explosion at a house in Craigavon, Co. Armagh, in Northern Ireland on Saturday night ...
LONDON UK - British Prime Minister Theresa May says she will meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker this week, ...
SEOUL, South Korea - The second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in ...
CHICAGO, Illinois - Five people have been shot dead and a number of others wounded by a gunman at an ...
The Taliban have called off a planned round of peace talks in Pakistan, saying that most of the members of ...
Iran's parliament speaker has said that an attack that killed 27 members of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) ...
Kabul [Afghanistan] Feb 17 (ANI): Afghanistan on Sunday voiced its concern to United Nations Security Council on Pakistan 's engagements ...
Iran has summoned the Pakistani ambassador to express its strong protest over the recent deadly terrorist attack in the southeastern ...
Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ...
Living with disabilities in Central Asia presents many challenges. Tight state budgets and social stigmas make integratingin society tough for ...
DUBLIN, Ireland - Following its successful acquisition of Hollywood-based Blindlight, Irish video-gaming company Keywords Studios has now announced its latest accomplishment. Keywords r ...
Read More