Christine Blasey Ford sent a “personal” letter to Chuck Grassley Saturday which was just released to the media today. From Politico:

Christine Blasey Ford told Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in a personal letter penned Saturday that her sole motivation in bringing a sexual assault allegation against Brett Kavanaugh is “to tell the truth” about what the Supreme Court nominee did…

“Mr. Kavanaugh’s actions, while many years ago, were serious and have had a lasting impact on my life,” Ford wrote to Grassley. “I thought that knowledge of his actions could be useful for you and those in charge of choosing among the various candidates. My original intent was first and foremost to be a helpful citizen – in a confidential way that would minimize collateral damage to all families and friends involved.”…

“While I am frightened, please know, my fear will not hold me back from testifying and you will be provided with answers to all of your questions. I ask for fair and respectful treatment,” Ford wrote.

Ford also says she would be happy to meet with Senators one-on-one to tell her story in addition to her testimony. “I will answer any questions you have,” she writes. Grassley had been asked to release the letter Sunday but chose not to do so until today. The Washington Post’s Seung Min Kim tweeted a copy of the full letter:

Letter from Christine Blasey Ford sent to Grassley on Saturday pic.twitter.com/QNtr4IJv8h

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) September 24, 2018

Grassley also released his personal response to Ford which reads in part:

Thank you for the personal letter you sent to me on Saturday.

I’m writing to say that I am committed to fair and respectful treatment of you, as you’ve requested. I’ve worked to make certain the committee I chair handles all individuals involved in
hearings in that manner, and you deserve the same.

I appreciate receiving your account of how you tried to share information with me during the summer. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I have great responsibility for the hearing to consider the President’s nominee. I should have been given your July 30 letter at the time your letter was sent by either my colleague Sen. Feinstein or the lawyer helping you so that what it said could have been considered in August and during the week of September 4, when the committee hearing was held, including a senators-only session of the hearing. I take letters from individuals seriously and over a long period of time have demonstrated a commitment to handling personal or sensitive information in a confidential manner.

Grassley also added this handwritten note to the letter:

In his letter responding to Dr. Ford this afternoon, Sen. Grassley appended this handwritten postscript https://t.co/VM9WBF6YSv pic.twitter.com/wpkyFCZiaR

— Steven Mazie (@stevenmazie) September 24, 2018

While we wait for Ford to answer all our questions under oath, Brett Kavanaugh and his wife have given an interview to Fox News’ Martha MacCallum which is set to air tonight at 7 pm ET. There doesn’t seem to be a preview of the interview up at this point but MacCallum did tweet this photo:

Tonight I sit down exclusively with Supreme Court Nominee Bret Kavanaugh and his wife Ashley on The Story. 7pm ET. pic.twitter.com/bhAH9teSFK

— Martha MacCallum (@marthamaccallum) September 24, 2018

It will be very interesting to see how Ford responds to whatever Kavanaugh has to say tonight. Will she release a statement after the interview tonight or wait to make her reply Thursday with the nation watching?

Update: And now there are some previews of the interview available.

"The truth is, I've never sexually assaulted anyone." —Brett Kavanaugh

Watch @marthamaccallum's full interview with Judge Kavanaugh and his wife Ashley tonight on Fox News Channel at 7p ET. https://t.co/QFmLfIwW4R pic.twitter.com/iWVoDt2ADc

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 24, 2018

Another one:

"I'm not going to let false accusations drive us out of this process." —Brett Kavanaugh

Watch @MarthaMacCallum's full interview with Judge Kavanaugh and his wife Ashley tonight on Fox News Channel at 7p ET. https://t.co/QFmLfIwW4R pic.twitter.com/r8J2TUYQDj

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 24, 2018