Ford Agrees To Testify Next Week But Seeks Further Negotiation On Conditions

After the Senate agreed to extend the last deadline on Friday to 2:30 today, Christine Blasey Ford has agreed to testify while seeking to continue to negotiate on some details with the Senate.  It is not clear how much progress has been made since Ford previously said she would testify but would not agree on the date or conditions.  Then she pulled back from that commitment while seeking conditions. Now she is saying again that she would testify but again asking for conditions and negotiations.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said late Friday night that he would extend the deadline while complaining that she has received five extensions from the Committee.  The Committee had clearly reached the limit of further deadlines for an agreement to testify.

Grassley wrote on Twitter that Ford “[should] decide so we can move on . . . I want to hear her.” He added on Twitter “Dr Ford if u changed ur mind say so so we can move on I want to hear ur testimony. Come to us or we to u.”

Notably, the Committee has already said that it would not yield on such demands as forcing Kavanaugh to testify first.  I have previously said that that condition was rather curious as a approach — much like saying you swing first then I’ll pitch.  Kavanaugh is being recalled to answer these allegations.

As for her request for a Thursday, hearing, there may still be room for that accommodation but the Committee has said that they want a Wednesday hearing.