As protesters flooded the halls on Capitol Hill to show their support for Christine Blasey Ford, her lawyer told a Senate Committee that Dr. Ford would be prepared to testify about allegations against Supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh next week if the terms are fair and her safety is ensured. Republican Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley had set a deadline of Friday morning for her to respond to an invitation to testify before the Senate on Monday, where Kavanaugh would also testify.

Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, says he hopes Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, decides to testify at a public hearing on Monday. He speaks to Bloomberg's Kevin Cirilli.

Explosive allegations of sexual assault brought against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will be aired in an extraordinary public hearing next Monday.. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley confirming Kavanaugh and his accuser - Christine Blasey Ford - will testify before the committee (quote) "to provide ample transparency…. " The move coming after President Trump seemed to join those pushing for Kavanaugh's confirmation to be postponed.. TRUMP SOT: "If it takes a little delay to get Kavanaugh confirmed, it takes a little delay" Ford alleges that in the early 1980s a drunken Kavanaugh held her down, covered her mouth and tried to remove her clothing at a house party when they were high school students more than 30 years ago… Ford's lawyer Deborah Katz saying the incident traumatized her for years. LAWYER SOT Reuters has not been able to independently verify her story. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats who said lawmakers first needed to closely examine the charges leveled by Ford. COLLINS SOT "We need to hear from them both…/ "Obviously, if Judge Kavanaugh has lied about what happened, that would be disqualifying," Word of the new hearing coming after a day of high drama in Washington.. Kavanaugh issuing a new denial of the charges ..and huddling with officials at the White House as Senate Republicans tried to keep his nomination on track. TRUMP SOT - Trump on nomination still being on track… Grassley's decision delays a vote on Kavanaugh's nomination the committee had planned for this Thursday.. Monday's planned hearing sets up a scenario not seen since Anita Hill's explosive testimony in 1991, when she accused then-nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in the workplace. Thomas was ultimately confirmed by the Senate.

Top Senate Democrat Dianne Feinstein on Thursday said she had referred a letter about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to federal investigators.. Feinstein said the person who wrote the letter asked that it remain confidential.. but the New York Times - citing two unnamed officials - reported the incident involved possible sexual misconduct between Kavanaugh and a woman when they were both in high school. The White House swiftly dismissed the report, expressing skepticism of the timing of its release…and saying Kavanaugh has already been thoroughly vetted. The Times said the letter was first sent to the office of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo of California.. and was referred to Feinstein over the summer.. The move by Feinstein comes after Democrats try to thwart Kavanaugh's nomination over concerns Kavanaugh might help overturn abortion rights. On Thursday, Democratic senators failed again to secure the release of Kavanaugh-related documents... The Republican-led committee agreed to vote on Kavanaugh's nomination on September 20, with a FINAL confirmation vote likely by the end of the month.

The confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh should be put on hold until the FBI can probe allegations of sexual misconduct against him. That's according to Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein The call from the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee coming after The Washington Post on Sunday named Kavanaugh's accuser. 51-year-old professor Christine Ford accused Kavanaugh of pinning her to a bed, groping her and trying to remover her clothes at a party in the 1980s when both were in high school. Ford told the post she initially wanted to remain anonymous, but changed her mind and decided to go public. Last week, Kavanaugh said he "categorically and unequivocally" denies the allegations. Reuters has not independently confirmed Ford's claims, and the White House on Sunday did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Many Republicans dismissed the allegations as a political ploy.