Committee gives Kavanaugh accuser more time

Ms. Ford’s accusations of Kavanaugh’s behavior 35 years ago and the unusually tense standoff over the terms of her appearance have captivated the nation as the appellate court judge’s confirmation to the court hangs in balance.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat New York, with Sen. Mazie Hirono, Democrat Hawaii (left), joined by former students from Holton Arms School, speaks to reporters in support of professor Christine Blasey Ford, who is accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of a decades-old sexual attack, during a a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018.

The high-stakes brinkmanship over whether Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser would testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee has come to a momentary standstill as GOP Chairman Chuck Grassley gave Christine Blasey Ford more time to decide on the terms of her appearance.

The Republican-led committee insisted that if Ms. Ford missed a Friday night deadline to respond to the panel’s latest offer it would hold a vote on Monday on recommending Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination for the full Senate to consider.

Ms. Ford’s accusations of Kavanaugh’s behavior 35 years ago and the unusually tense standoff over the terms of her appearance have captivated the nation as the appellate court judge’s confirmation to the court hangs in balance. In a late-night tweet Mr. Grassley said he was granting Ms. Ford more time.