.@senjudiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley's office says Democrats "failed to join the Chairman’s staff yesterday evening on a bipartisan call with Judge Kavanaugh in which majority and minority staff could ask him any questions that they wanted."
Committee "staff reached out to Dr. Ford’s lawyer with multiple emails yesterday to schedule a similar call and inform her of the upcoming hearing, where she will have the opportunity to share her story with the Committee. Her lawyer has not yet responded."
Feinstein's "staff declined to participate in the phone call with Judge Kavanaugh to explore the allegations Democrats initially withheld, then leaked on the eve of a committee vote. Judge Kavanaugh immediately accepted this opportunity and answered all of our questions."
Kavanaugh's "answers were forthright and candid. He said he looks forward to testifying in public."
NEW from @senjudiciary: "Chairman Grassley’s staff has already begun conducting interviews ahead of Monday’s scheduled public hearing .... witnesses are informed that it is a federal crime to provide false testimony and can result in up to five years in prison."
"The first interview was with Judge Kavanaugh yesterday. We’ve also called and emailed Dr. Ford’s lawyer to arrange a similar interview, but we haven’t received a response."
"In addition, we’ve made contact with other alleged witnesses based on the Washington Post’s reporting. Ranking Member Feinstein and her staff are invited to participate in all interviews. They have so far declined."
