It's Susan Collins's moment

Ms. Collins’s complaints about fairness aren’t easily dismissed. She’s a strong advocate for women’s rights; she announced in 2016 she wouldn’t vote for Donald Trump; and she hasn’t been afraid to buck her party, as when she voted against ObamaCare repeal. She’s also firmly pro-choice but recently stood up to a nasty crowdfunding effort to bribe her into voting against Judge Kavanaugh over claims he would overturn Roe v. Wade.

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In remarks to reporters Monday afternoon, Ms. Collins called for accuser and accused to testify before the Judiciary Committee under oath. Not long after that, the Judiciary Committee scheduled a one-day hearing Monday on the issue. Ms. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh will each be heard.

This is a risky accommodation, because the media and Democrats won’t be satisfied no matter what Republicans do. But if it provides the space GOP senators need to move ahead to confirm Judge Kavanaugh, it may be the least damaging accommodation. The test is whether the hearing serves the purpose of keeping confirmation process close to schedule, or whether it will be turn into what the Democrats are really pushing for: the first of many delaying actions to come—what one Judiciary Committee staffer describes as “Borking 2.0.”

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