Yeah. He's getting confirmed next week sometime. No hearing.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/feinstein-says-republicans-making-same-mistakes-anita-hill-n910546

Kavanaugh accuser wants FBI to investigate before she testifies at Senate hearing


WASHINGTON — The scheduled hearing next Monday on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court appeared to be in even further doubt Tuesday, as lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school, said that she wants an FBI probe into the incident before testifying.

In a letter addressed to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Ford's attorneys wrote that "a full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decision."

Her attorneys, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, also said their client has been "the target of vicious harassment and even death threats," and that as a result, "her family was forced to relocate out of their home."

"We would welcome the opportunity to talk with you and Ranking Member Feinstein to discuss reasonable steps as to how Dr. Ford can cooperate while also taking care of her own health and security," they added.

The letter comes after Grassley said Tuesday morning that he had extended invitations to both Kavanaugh and Ford to testify before the Judiciary Committee on Monday. Kavanaugh accepted, but Ford and her attorneys had remained mum.

"We have reached out to her in the last 36 hours, three or four times by email and we’ve not heard from them, so it kind of raises the question, do they want to come to the public hearing or not?" Grassley said on The Hugh Hewitt Show radio show.
In an interview on CNN's "AC360" Tuesday night, Banks, when asked to clarify whether her client would testify Monday if the FBI agrees to investigate, Banks said, "There's no reason that we should have a public hearing on Monday given what has occurred."

Ford's request for a law enforcement investigation prior to appearing before the Senate echoes the calls of several Democrats on Judiciary Committee Tuesday, who argued that any public hearing should wait.

“We should honor Dr. Blasey Ford’s wishes and delay this hearing. A proper investigation must be completed, witnesses interviewed, evidence reviewed and all sides spoken to. Only then should the chairman set a hearing date," said the panel's top Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in a statement following news about the letter.

The FBI, however, isn't likely to conduct any investigation into the veracity of Ford's claims, unless the White House asks for it. Several current and former Department of Justice and FBI officials told NBC News that has always been the practice.


But President Donald Trump indicated Tuesday that he did not currently plan to make that request.

"I don’t think the FBI should be involved because they don’t want to be involved," Trump told reporters at the White House. "If they wanted to be, I would certainly do that."

Republicans have indicated that next Monday's hearing could be Ford's sole chance to speak before the committee. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Judiciary Committee, noted to reporters at a Senate GOP leadership press conference Tuesday that she was offered the choice of testifying in an open or closed session.

Responding to the uncertainty around the hearing and Ford's lack of a response, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told reporters Tuesday: "That's very puzzling to me...I really hope that she doesn't pass up that opportunity."

Democrats protested other aspects of Monday's hearing, too, lambasting the GOP for rushing the process and for not calling additional witnesses beyond Kavanaugh and Ford. Many drew parallels between the current situation and how allegations made by Anita Hill 27 years ago were handled after Hill came forward with sexual harassment allegations against Justice Clarence Thomas during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor Tuesday morning that it would be unacceptable for senators to hear from witnesses just a day or two before being asked to vote on the nomination.

He also called it "inadequate" for the committee to hear from only two witnesses on Monday and said that Mark Judge — who Ford said was a witness to the incident — should also testify.

"Let's not repeat the mistakes of the Anita Hill hearings," Schumer said. "Let's call all the relevant witnesses."