Feinstein, Dems Burned in Fiery Letters from Grassley

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley’s been frustrated with the antics of Democrats on the committee since the first minute of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, when Kamala Harris tried to Kanye the proceedings. The events of the past week have done nothing to dim that frustration, and, judging by two letters Grassley sent to his colleagues Wednesday afternoon, he’s completely through with entertaining their drama – even for a nanosecond.

One letter was sent to Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the other to Sen. Dianne Feinstein individually. In the group letter, he attempted to educate these Senators about the FBI background check process and the inability of the Legislative Branch to commandeer an Executive Branch agency. He also reminds them that their “advise and consent” role means it’s the Senate’s responsibility to investigate any claims pertaining to a nominee’s fitness for the office.

And then he explains the options he’s presented Ford to tell her story to the Committee, and takes them to task.

New Grassley ltr to SJC Dems: “I certainly understand why Dr. Ford might be distrustful of the Committee’s ability to keep matters confidential based on the Democratic members’ recent conduct …”

— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) September 19, 2018

The remainder of the sentence is equally beautiful:

“An open session would be a matter of public record, while a closed session will remain confidential. I certainly can understand that Dr. Ford might be distrustful of the Committee’s ability to keep matters confidential based on the Democratic members’ recent conduct, but I sincerely hope that, if she chooses to testify in a closed session, that my colleagues can see their way to plugging the leaks which have plagued this nomination and gain her trust.”

In the letter to Feinstein, Grassley notes that she’s had this information for seven weeks and had numerous opportunities to address the allegations with Grassley and/or Kavanaugh without revealing the identity of the accuser, and behind closed doors where it wouldn’t be public. He also notes that to this moment he hasn’t seen an unredacted copy of Ford’s letter and requests that she immediately send him such, so that he can do his job.

“Sexual assault allegations deserve serious attention, and those who make such allegations must be heard. They should not be deployed strategically for political gain. You received this letter approximately seven weeks ago. But the contents of the letter were leaked only last week when it appeared the Senate was about to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.”

It is absurd that Grassley has not received an unredacted copy of the letter at this point, and absolutely hypocritical (but not surprising) that the same people who were throwing a hissy fit about not having every memo Brett Kavanaugh ever looked at, unredacted, are withholding such a vital piece of information from their colleagues who are also charged with a duty to the Constitution, the President, and the American people. They know they completely overshot the mark here, and are searching for ways to salvage a shred of credibility.

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