Former Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah said it was offensive for Christine Blasey Ford to try to dictate terms to the Senate, ahead of her testimony on Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
Ford accused President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee of groping her over her clothes at a party in high school and claimed he drunkenly tried to remove her clothing by force. (RELATED: Republicans Have ‘Damaged’ Brett Kavanaugh And His Family And GOP Is ‘Bending Over Backwards’ To Hear His Accuser, Says Jason Chaffetz)
Chaffetz blamed Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California for leaking a letter Ford had sent to her office, detailing the alleged incident from over 35 years ago. He called for the contents of the letter to be released to the public in full.
“First of all, the chain of custody on her original letter is solely with the Democrats. So in terms of leaking they can only look to Dianne Feinstein,” Chaffetz said on “Fox & Friends” Sunday. “I do think the letter should be released, unredacted to the public this point if she is indeed going to testify.”
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Chaffetz said congressional rules date back to former President Thomas Jefferson and prevent witnesses from dictating terms before their questioning. He also said he was offended at Ford’s attempt to skirt Senate requirements.
“I think it was actually Thomas Jefferson that set the rules, originally in the House and the Senate. They foreshadowed this idea that maybe people would want to negotiate their way through what they do to Congress. That’s why before they do any of this they set up the rules,” he declared. “So there isn’t a negotiation. I’m kind of offended by the idea that somebody thinks they can renegotiate the rules of the Senate.”
“I think Senator [Chuck] Grassley has bent over backwards — private, public, in California, in Washington, D.C. I don’t know what else they can do, but they shouldn’t acquiesce to everything.” Chaffetz said.
“There’s a reason why we do it the way we do it. We want to be sensitive but if you want to hear from her, you’ve got to play by the rules of the Senate,” he concluded.
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