CNN’s Anderson Cooper Questions Christine Ford’s Lawyer on Delaying Senate Testimony
Lisa Banks, one of the attorneys representing Christine Blasey Ford, appeared on CNN Tuesday night to announce that her client wants an FBI investigation into her allegations before she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Ford has accused Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump‘s nominee for the Supreme Court, of sexual assaulting her 36 years ago when the two were teenagers. Kavanaugh denies the allegation. A hearing was set by the Committee for her and Kavanaugh to testify next Monday. Ford’s lawyers responded to the invitation with a letter on Tuesday night informing Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley that Ford would not be attending the hearing.
“Are you saying there has to be an investigation by the FBI or else Professor Ford will not testify?” CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked Banks.
“What we’re saying is that there should be an investigation, because that’s the right thing to do,” Banks replied.
“If there’s not an investigation would she appear on Monday?” Cooper followed up.
“She is prepared to cooperate with the Committee and with any law enforcement investigation,” Banks said. “She will cooperate with the Committee in whatever form that takes and it remains to be seen. We have to talk with Senator Grassley’s office and the other committee members to determine what form that will take.”
Banks added that “any talk of a hearing on Monday is premature.”
“She just came forward with these allegations 48 hours ago,” Banks continued. “Since that time, she has been dealing with hate mail, harassment, death threats. She’s been spending her time trying to figure out how to put her life back together, how to protect herself and her family.”
Cooper continued to press Banks on their demands for an FBI investigation, asking whether under any circumstances Ford would attend a Senate hearing on Monday.
“She’s not prepared to talk to them at a hearing on Monday,” Ford said. “It’s premature to talk about a hearing on Monday.”
Cooper noted that Republicans will accuse Democrats of a “stalling tactic” for the process, which Banks denied, reiterating that her client is not ready for a hearing on Monday.
Watch above, via CNN.
[image via screengrab]
