Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., suggested Thursday that Republicans may be hiding dirt on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh by refusing an independent investigation into Christine Blasey Ford’s sexual assault allegations against the judge.
“This rush to judgment makes you wonder what else are they trying to hide,” Leahy told CNN. “The only reason for rushing it is if you don’t want other facts to come out.”
Ford has alleged Kavanaugh held her down on a bed and tried to remove her clothing during a party more than 30 years ago when the two were in high school. When she tried to escape, he allegedly covered her mouth so no one else could hear her scream, she said.
Kavanaugh has denied he sexually assaulted Ford.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has invited both Ford and Kavanaugh to testify Monday about the allegations. Lawyers for Ford, who has not accepted the invitation, have called for an FBI investigation on the matter before their client testifies.
It’s unclear whether Republicans will move forward with a vote on Kavanaugh if Ford declines to testify next week.
Leahy argued that stalling a vote for a couple of weeks to investigate the matter would make little difference in the long term.
He called the argument that Republicans must confirm Kavanaugh before the midterm elections “stupid” and “bogus” because Republicans will hold the majority no matter what happens in November until January.
“They are in charge until noon on Jan. 3. They have plenty of time to get it right,” he said. “When you have a woman who has been courageous and come forward, she ought to at least have due process on this. She has not.”
