John Dickerson: “The Woman Who’s Accuse Of Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Of Sexual Assault Is Demanding An Investigation Before She Testifies On Capitol Hill.” DICKERSON: “The woman who’s accuse of supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault is demanding an investigation before she testifies on capitol hill. Christine blasey Ford says the FBI should look into her allegation that Kavanaugh assaulted her more than 35 years ago before she appears before the senate judiciary committee.” [This Morning, CBS, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
John Berman: “Republican Leaders In The Senate Are Refusing To Allow Any Other Witnesses At A Hearing Including The Man That Professor Blasey Ford Was In The Room During The Assault.”[New Day, CNN, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
Abby Phillip: “There Are A Lot Of Ways In Which On The Republican Side They Are Demonstrating […] They Don’t Necessarily Want To Look Into It Particularly Deeply” PHILLIP: “there are a lot of ways in which on the Republican side they are demonstrating even if they don’t want the FBI to look into it, they don’t necessarily want to look into it particularly deeply, and that’s why Ford is sort of backing off of this process because even in the Anita hill case, there were so many other witnesses called to testify as part of the process, and in this case the one-on-one is exactly what the white house wants, they think the he said-she said will be a wash in the court of public opinion clearing the way for Republican centers to take a vote on this in a fairly guilt-free manner.” [New Day, CNN, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
Cynthia Alksne: “The Idea That The FBI Is Not Capable Of Investigating This Is Ridiculous.” CAMEROTA: “Cynthia, do you believe that the FBI should re-open a background check?” ALKSNE: “Absolutely. The FBI, the idea that the FBI is not capable of investigating this is ridiculous. Who is surprised that the president of the United States who has been accused of numerous sexual assault doesn’t want the FBI doing the investigation, they do all kinds of sex trafficking investigations and they have people that specialize in this type.” [New Day, CNN, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
Joe Scarborough: “That Is Comes Down To Lisa Murkowski And Susan Collins, Do They Want To Vote For A Nominee Who Will Overturn Roe V. Wade.” JOE SCARBOROUGH: “This boils down to what we thought it would be about from the very beginning. That is comes down to Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, do they want to vote for a nominee who will overturn roe V. Wade. be a conservative with a cloud over his nomination, unfairly as it may be, or fairly, do they want to carry that legacy with them for the rest of their lives because that will be their legacy.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
Nick Confessore: “If We Were Talking About An Opinion Paper That He Had Written 30 Years Ago, You Would Bet They Would Expend Every Possible Effort To Get To The Bottom Of It.” NICK CONFESSORE: “Well, look, the asked for an FBI investigation I think is partly a desire by her together out of the he said/she said box. She wants some other person or entity in there make something determination about the facts. It’s very understandable. The FBI is not normally equipped for this kind of thing, but they do background checks. I have to wonder if they’ve interviewed mark judge, the only other witness to this. You could bring him to testify. He could be asked a question by the FBI. There is a lot that can be done on an old investigation, on a cold case. By the way, if we were talking about an opinion paper that he had written 30 years ago, you would bet they would expend every possible effort to get to the bottom of it.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
Joe Scarborough On Rushing Kavanaugh Vote: “If It Takes Another Week, They Should Wait Another Week. This Is A Lifetime Appointment.” JOE SCARBOROUGH: “So that is, at the end of the day, the balance. If anybody were still capable of balancing anything in Washington, D.C., that Republicans and Democrats should balance. If it takes another week, they should wait another week. This is a lifetime appointment. So the question is how does that happen when there is such bad faith between Republicans and Democrats and Republicans are likely suspicious and now they’re saying we can talk about an FBI investigation. But the one thing we know is there is a big clock ticking. And every second that goes by, every delay that happens, that accrues to the benefit of Democrats and any Democrat that pretends that’s not the case is just lying, Mike. So how do you balance that?” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
MAYA WILEY: “You Want Someone In This Position Who Has The Highest Degree Of Integrity And So Any Allegation That Suggests That A Person Who Is Being Considered For The Supreme Court Of The United States, We Should Know And Understand Exactly What Kind Of Person We’re Going To Have.” MAYA WILEY: “Certainly it’s important, number one, because we are talking about the highest legal position in the land that has significant power and authority, including law making on issues that relate to exactly the kind of allegations that are coming before us now, meaning what is the nature of the law when it comes to some of the cases that we might see before the supreme court. You want someone in this position who has the highest degree of integrity and so any allegation that suggests that a person who is being considered for the supreme court of the United States, we should know and understand exactly what kind of person we’re going to have, including whether or not they obey the law, since that’s what they’re sworn to uphold. In this case the question isn’t whether or not there’s going to be a criminal investigation in the sense of whether he will serve any jail time, the issue is whether or not he is telling the truth on a very, very serious allegation and frankly there are a lot of tools available to law enforcement to determine whether or not there’s any more evidence, but I think the important thing here is the fact that there is corroboration in the sense that in 2012 before Brett Kavanaugh was ever being considered for a supreme court seat, that she actually told someone what happened in exactly the same way for the most part with only a few – a few differences, but for the most part the same story that she’s telling now with very, very little to gain and that’s the kind of thing we look at when we look at veracity and evidence.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
Jonathan Karl: “If The President Wanted It Reopened To Look At These New Allegations, He Could Order That Done, And He Has Not Done So.” DAVID MUIR: “President Trump seemed to imply that it’s really up to the FBI whether to reopen Judge Kavanaugh’s background check, so, what is the FBI saying tonight, if anything at all?” KARL: “Well, we asked the FBI about what the president said, they have no comment on but David, background checks are conducted at the request of The White House. One was done on Kavanaugh. If the president wanted it reopened to look at these new allegations, he could order that done, and he has not done so.” [World News Tonight, ABC, 9/18/18; VIDEO]
Mary Bruce: “Three Of Those Senators Who Questioned Anita Hill So Many Years Ago Are Still On This Committee. One Of Them, Republican Orrin Hatch, Is Already Siding With Kavanaugh. He Says He Believes Kavanaugh’s Denial, And He Thinks Ford Is Mistaken.” DAVID MUIR: “So many pointing to the very personal questioning of Anita hill so many years ago. You showed just a moment of it there, about her allegations against nominee Clarence Thomas. But many senators know this is a much different time, a much different era now, and many of these senators are up for the stakes leading into the midterms and this potential public hearing are enormous. “BRUCE: “The political pressure here is tremendous, and three of those senators who questioned Anita Hill so many years ago are still on this committee. One of them, republican Orrin Hatch, is already siding with Kavanaugh. He says he believes Kavanaugh’s denial, and he thinks Ford is mistaken.” [World News Tonight, ABC, 9/18/18; VIDEO]
Terry Moran: “The Specter Of What Happened In Those Explosive Hearings Back In 1991 Is Looming Over Washington Right Now. Republicans Remember How They Were Blasted For Their Cluelessness And Insensitivity, And Democrats Remember That Clarence Thomas Made It To The Supreme Court.” [Good Morning America, ABC, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
Anita Hill: “The Hearing Questions Need To Have A Frame, And The Investigation Is The Best Frame For That. A Neutral Investigation. That Can Pull Together The Facts, Create A Record, So That The Senators Can Draw On The Information They Receive To Develop Their Question.” GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: They want an FBI investigation before she testifies. Is that the right move? Should the senate honor her request?” HILL: ““The hearing questions need to have a frame, and the investigation is the best frame for that. A neutral investigation. That can pull together the facts, create a record, so that the senators can draw on the information they receive to develop their question. Also helpful would be bringing in expert testimony or experts who can help them shape the questions that they’re going to ask.” [Good Morning America, ABC, 9/19/18; VIDEO]
Anita Hill: “We’re Talking About Whether The Conditions Are Actually Tenable. Whether Or Not It Is Going To Be Anything More Than Just A Sham Proceeding So That The Senators Can Say We Gave Her A Chance To Talk, And Then Move On To Doing Exactly What They Were Intending To Do Before She Came Forward.” GEORGE STEPHANOPULOS: “Do you believe Dr. Blasey Ford has a duty to testify publicly even if the conditions are not ideal?” HILL: “Well, we’re not talking about whether the conditions are ideal. We’re talking about whether the conditions are actually tenable, whether or not it is going to be anything more than just a sham proceeding so that the senators can say we gave her a chance to talk and then move on to doing exactly what they were intending to do before she came forward.” [Good Morning America, ABC, 9/19/18; VIDEO]