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.
“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.”
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.
“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.
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.
“Committee rules normally require 3 days notice so we‘re following regular order.”
