An experienced sex-crimes prosecutor has been tabbed to question Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and a woman who has accused him of sexual assault.
Rachel Mitchell, a prosecutor since 1993, is currently on leave as the deputy county attorney in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona. She is also on leave from her position as division chief of the Special Victims Division, which consists of sex-crimes and family-violence bureaus.
“I’m committed to providing a forum to both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh on Thursday that is safe, comfortable and dignified. The majority members have followed the bipartisan recommendation to hire as staff counsel for the committee an experienced career sex-crimes prosecutor to question the witnesses,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in a statement ahead of the Sept. 27 public hearing.
“The goal is to de-politicize the process and get to the truth, instead of grandstanding and giving senators an opportunity to launch their presidential campaigns.”
JUST IN: Republicans have chosen Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell for the Kavanaugh hearing and questioning, set for Thursday. She's the division chief of the special victims unit for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. I recently interviewed her. She is an absolute pro. pic.twitter.com/GWRwJVKPsz
— Preston Phillips 🇺🇸 (@PrestonTVNews) September 26, 2018
Mitchell’s Experience
Grassley said that Mitchell has experience and objectivity and will treat the witnesses fairly and respectfully.
According to Grassley, Mitchell spent 12 years running the bureau responsible for prosecuting sex-related felonies and supervised a satellite bureau responsible for the prosecution of felonies including child molestation, sexual assault, and elder abuse.
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“She is a widely recognized expert on the investigation and prosecution of sex crimes and has frequently served as a speaker and instructor on the subject. In particular, Mitchell has for many years instructed detectives, prosecutors, child-protection workers, and social workers on the best practices for forensic interviews of victims of sex crimes,” the statement said, noting Mitchell has received multiple awards for her work.
Mitchell will question Ford and Kavanaugh for Republican senators, while Democratic senators have chosen to question the pair themselves.
Judic Cmte noticed POTENTIAL exec mtg for Friday. Still taking this 1 step at a time. After hrg Dr Ford & Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony- if we‘re ready to vote, we will vote. If we aren’t ready, we won’t. Cmte rules normally require 3 days notice so we‘re following regular order
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 25, 2018
Allegation and Vote
Christine Ford, a California professor, claims that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982 when she was 15, he was 17, and both went to high school in Maryland. Kavanaugh has denied the claim, and all the people Ford said were at the party have said they weren’t there, and Ford has been unable to name a specific date, time, or place of the alleged incident.
Senators have said they want to hear from Ford, who has declined as of yet to provide the Judiciary Committee with written testimony, which comes under the penalty of perjury if found to be false, in contrast to Kavanaugh and the three others who have disputed Ford’s claim.
Grassley also rescheduled the committee vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court for Sept. 28, citing the normal procedures for the committee.
“Still taking this one step at a time. After hearing Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony, if we‘re ready to vote, we will vote. If we aren’t ready, we won’t,” Grassley said late Tuesday.
“Committee rules normally require 3 days notice so we‘re following regular order.”
From NTD.tv
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