Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh says he plans to push ahead and appear at a Senate hearing set for Monday, despite lawyers for the woman accusing him of sexual assault saying she won't be there.

"Thank you for the invitation to appear before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Monday, September 24. I will be there. I look forward to the opportunity to testify before the Committee," Kavanaugh wrote.

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Kavanaugh noted that during a private phone call with Judiciary Committee staff on Monday of this week he had requested a hearing as soon as the following day.

"I continue to want a hearing as soon as possible, so that I can clear my name," Kavanaugh said.

The White House released the letter hours after a lawyer for Christine Blasey Ford, Kavanaugh's accuser, said she would not testify at the hearing set for Monday but opened the door for testifying later in the week

“She wishes to testify, provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and which ensure her safety,” Ford lawyer Debra Katz wrote to the Judiciary Committee.