WASHINGTON _ Senate Republicans repeatedly blamed ranking Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein for not revealing earlier Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's letter detailing her allegations that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school.
Finally at the end of the day, Feinstein interrupted Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., to push back.
"I did not hide Dr. Ford's allegations. I did not leak her story," Feinstein said. "I was given some information by a woman who was very much afraid, who asked that it be held confidential, and I held it confidential until she decided that she would come forward."
Republicans said they could have investigated her claim while protecting her identity, without delaying the confirmation process.
Ford named herself in The Washington Post after news and vague details about the letter leaked to the news media, and thanked Feinstein in her opening statement.
Nearly every Republican on the committee, and Kavanaugh, directly referenced Feinstein on Thursday. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., accused her and Democrats of "lying in wait" to release the letter. Kavanaugh echoed that in his opening statement.
"Some of you were lying in wait and had it ready. This first allegation was held in secret for weeks by a Democratic member of this committee, and by staff. It would be needed only if you couldn't take me out on the merits," Kavanaugh said.
Tillis told Democrats that if they were worried about having a full investigation, "I would tell you to pound the table with your ranking member and leadership on your side (asking) why didn't we ... we do our part in the investigation."
Feinstein had forcefully defended herself in her opening statement.
"Yes, I did receive a letter from Dr. Ford," Feinstein said. "I held it confidential, up to a point where the witness was willing to come forward."
Otherwise, Feinstein kept quiet as they criticized her.
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said Republicans were accusing Feinstein and Democrats of political posturing because they were trying to change the conversation from Ford's testimony.
"They want to distract us from what happened here this morning," Hirono said.
