Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley shut down Dr. Christine Ford’s calls for an FBI investigation before she testifies on sexual assault allegations on Monday.
Ford, who claims Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her over three decades ago, said she will not testify in a scheduled Senate Judiciary hearing on Monday until the FBI investigates her allegations.
Grassley wrote in a letter to Ford’s lawyers on Wednesday that it is not appropriate for the FBI to investigate, and he will not delay Monday’s hearing.
“I certainly understand and respect Dr. Ford’s desire for an investigation of her allegations,” Grassley wrote. “That is precisely what the Senate is doing. That is why our investigators have asked to speak with your client.”
JUST IN: Chairman Grassley in letter to Dr. Ford’s attorneys: “You have stated repeatedly that Dr. Ford wants to tell her story. I sincerely hope that Dr. Ford will accept my invitation to do so, either privately or publicly, on Monday.” pic.twitter.com/OZ7Fo4JpKy
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 19, 2018
“It is not the FBI’s role to investigate a matter such as this,” he continued. “The FBI does not make a credibility assessment of any information it receives with respect to a nominee. Nor is it tasked with investigating a matter simply because the Committee deems it important.”
Grassley concluded his letter by asserting that it is the Senate’s job to assess her allegations and again offered her the opportunity to testify on Monday.