Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley suspects that the top Senate Democrat is orchestrating the ongoing delay of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation process.

Grassley, an Iowa Republican, has been trying to schedule a time for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford to appear before the committee and testify about her allegation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school. The charge, revealed last week after the conclusion of Kavanaugh’s formal confirmation hearing, tossed a wrench in the panel’s plan to approve his nomination. Grassley’s team has been negotiating with Ford’s attorneys, but he threw an elbow at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer late Friday.

“With all the extensions we give Dr Ford to decide if she still wants to testify to the Senate I feel like I’m playing 2nd trombone in the judiciary orchestra and Schumer is the conductor,” Grassley tweeted.



With all the extensions we give Dr Ford to decide if she still wants to testify to the Senate I feel like I’m playing 2nd trombone in the judiciary orchestra and Schumer is the conductor — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 22, 2018

Ford has until 2:30 pm Saturday to agree to testify, according to CNN; otherwise, Republicans will proceed with a plan to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination on Monday. Grassley wanted the hearing to take place on Monday. He has agreed to delay it Wednesday. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., accused Grasley of “bullying” Ford.

"Bullying a survivor of attempted rape in order to confirm a nominee — particularly at a time when she's receiving death threats — is an extreme abuse of power," she said. "I'm shocked and appalled by the Republicans' refusal to wait 24 hours for a hearing and instead rush forward with a vote on Monday. From the outset, Republicans have tried to push through this nomination at all costs."

Feinstein learned of Ford’s story in a July letter, but didn’t reveal it to the other Senate Democrats or the FBI until September, a week after Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing concluded. “That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision,” she said Sept. 12. “I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities.”

But Republicans believe that Feinstein delayed the release in an attempt to prevent Kavanaugh, or a hypothetical replacement, from being confirmed before the mid-term elections.

“Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new ‘information’ about him,” said White House spokeswoman Kerri Kupe when Feinstein first revealed the letter. “Sen. Schumer promised to ‘oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination with everything I have,’ and it appears he is delivering with this 11th hour attempt to delay his confirmation.”

Schumer counters that it is Grassley who is acting in bad faith. “Dr. Ford says she can testify Thursday, but Republicans can’t wait that long,” he tweeted Friday. “What is 1 extra day for serious allegations and a lifetime appointment? They clearly don’t want a hearing, like they don’t want an FBI investigation.”

Grassley has offered to allow Ford to testify in private or in public. "Five times now we hv granted extension for Dr Ford to decide if she wants to proceed w her desire stated one wk ago that she wants to tell senate her story," he tweeted Friday. "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"