Senate Judiciary Committee to hold public hearing with Kavanaugh, accuser

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing with Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, and Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused him of assault when they were teenagers.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released a statement Monday evening announcing the hearing, which will take place next Monday, and said it will be public in an effort to "provide ample transparency." Senators will be able to ask Kavanaugh and Ford questions. In July, Ford sent a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), where she shared details about the alleged assault. Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, did not share the contents of the letter with the panel, and did not reveal she had the letter until last week, as Ford said her letter was confidential. On Sunday, The Washington Post published Ford's account, along with her name.

Earlier Monday evening, White House spokesman Raj Shah said Kavanaugh "looks forward to a hearing where he can clear his name on this false allegation. He stands ready to testify tomorrow if the Senate is ready to hear him." A vote on Kavanaugh's nomination had been scheduled for Thursday.

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