The sworn statement, Collins told the senators, brought the allegations to a new level and raised concerns that enough wasn’t being done to address their veracity. Pointing to the affidavit, which she had printed out, Collins said given the weight of the allegations, it made sense to subpoena Kavanaugh’s friend Mark Judge — an alleged witness to the incidents — and bring him in for testimony.
Multiple senators in the room attempted to reassure Collins that the process in place — with the Judiciary Committee investigators and staff looking into the multiple allegations, gathering evidence and attempting to interview all involved — was the most efficient way to handle what had been brought to the forefront.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Collins that the committee staff had begun to reach out to the third accuser, while Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn and others suggested bringing in Judge would do little to shed light on the situation.
