Senate Republicans hired outside counsel to question Christine Ford in Thursday’s hearing.
The attorney, a female who is an expert in sex crimes has been identified as Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell.
Senate Republicans previously kept Mitchell’s identity under wraps citing safety concerns.
LMTOnline reported:
Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell has emerged as Senate Republicans’ choice to question Brett Kavanaugh and the woman who has accused the Supreme Court nominee of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers, according to two people familiar with the decision.
Mitchell, the sex crimes bureau chief for the Maricopa County Attorney’s office in Phoenix, is the leading candidate to query the two at Thursday’s highly anticipated hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to the individuals.
They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it on the record.
A registered Republican, Mitchell has worked for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for 26 years.
Grassley said 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.
Grassley on hiring Rachel Mitchell to lead questioning: 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 at Thursday’s hearing.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 26, 2018
Grassley: 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. I’m very appreciative that Rachel Mitchell has stepped forward to serve in this important and serious role
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 26, 2018
Ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said on Tuesday afternoon that she has “no way of knowing” if Christine Ford will show up to Thursday’s hearing to testify against Brett Kavanaugh.
Feinstein’s statement was in response to the Senate Republicans hiring a female prosecutor experienced in sex crimes to question Christine Ford.
Democrats are complaining about the latest move by Republicans to hire outside counsel–Democrat Senator Kamala Harris said it’s “passive aggressive.”