Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Washington. Christine Blasey Ford wants the FBI to investigate her allegation that she was sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh before she testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing next week. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
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Developing now, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018
- Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser has until Friday morning to say if she’ll testify next Monday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley says
- Grassley blasts Sen. Dianne Feinstein and other Democrats for their handling of the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh and alleged attempts to 'delay and obstruct' his confirmation
- In an exclusive interview with FOX News’ Laura Ingraham, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slams John Kerry and other former Obama administration officials for attempting to undermine President Trump's agenda
- Attorney General Jeff Sessions' job once again appears to be in jeopardy after President Trump rips him in an interview published Wednesday
- For the second time in less than a year, the federal government reportedly has acknowledged losing track of nearly 1,500 migrant children placed in foster care nationwide
THE LEAD STORY - CLOCK TICKING FOR KAVANAUGH'S ACCUSER - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has warned the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault that time is beginning to run out if she wants to explain her allegations on Capitol Hill next Monday ... Grassley wrote to Christine Blasey Ford's attorneys Wednesday that the panel was giving her until 10 a.m. ET Friday to submit a biography and prepared statement "if she intends to testify" Monday. However, Ford's attorney said late Wednesday that she would not testify. It remained unclear, though, whether Ford would attend or if the hearing would occur without her. (Grassley has said Monday's hearing would remain on the calendar despite Democrats' objections.)
Ford has demanded that the FBI conduct a full investigation of her decades-old allegations against Kavanaugh before she agrees to testify before Congress. Grassley has offered Ford an opportunity to talk in private about her allegations. Kavanaugh has denied the charges and is said to be ready to refute Ford's story in next Monday's scheduled public hearing.
- Howard Kurtz: Kavanaugh opposition loses steam as his accuser balks at testifying
- Chad Pergram: Why Friday is an important day in the Kavanaugh confirmation saga
- Laura Ingraham: Kavanaugh, Ford controversy – shades of Duke lacrosse rush to judgment
- Democrats under fire for pushing misleading Kavanaugh videos
- 'The View' host Joy Behar: 'White men' are protecting 'probably guilty' Brett Kavanaugh
'OBSTRUCT AND DELAY' TACTICS BACKFIRING ON DEMS? - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley on Wednesday unloaded a torrent of criticism on ranking Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein for her handling of the sexual assault accusations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and blasted Democrats for their "abuse of this confirmation process" through "delay and obstruction" ... Saying Feinstein "chose to sit on the allegations until a politically opportune moment," Grassley demanded she immediately turn over an unredacted copy of the letter from Christine Blasey Ford that Feinstein received July 30. Feinstein, D-Calif., shared the letter with federal authorities and other senators only last week, days before a key Judiciary Committee vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation, after a leak about the letter was published in the Intercept. Republicans have accused Democrats of orchestrating that leak. Grassley has had access only to a redacted copy of the letter.
- Juanita Broaddrick blasts Hillary Clinton's call for 'due process' for Kavanaugh's accuser
- Kavanaugh classmate has no recollection of party where alleged sexual assault occurred
- Lauren DeBellis Appell: Are Democrats pressuring a reluctant Ford for their own political advantage?
JOHN KERRY 'CAN'T GET OFF THE STAGE': Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in an exclusive interview with FOX News' Laura Ingraham, ripped his predecessor John Kerry and other former members of the Obama administration for allegedly trying to undermine President Trump's foreign policy agenda ... "Secretary Kerry can't seem to get off the stage," Pompeo said on "The Ingraham Angle" on Wednesday. "It's one thing to meet with your counterpart, it’s another thing to do what Secretary Kerry, Wendy Sherman, Ernest Moniz, frankly the whole gang has done, which is to actively seek to undermine what President Trump is trying to achieve." Pompeo said Kerry, Moniz and others are "acting in ways that are harmful to achieving what's best for the American people." When asked whether he supports calls for the Justice Department to investigate whether Kerry violated federal law by meeting with Iranian officials, Pompeo said, "I'll leave the legal action to others. I'm trying to execute America's foreign policy."
- Sen. Rubio asks the Justice Department to determine if Kerry violated federal laws by meeting with Iranian officials
SESSIONS' DAYS NUMBERED?: President Trump again stirred speculation about Attorney General Jeff Sessions' future with a new public attack Wednesday ... In an interview with Hill.TV, Trump tore into Sessions, saying “I don’t have an attorney general.” Trump said the beleaguered Sessions was absent and performing poorly in his role as the nation’s top lawyer. Trump’s relationship with Sessions has been strained since the former U.S. senator from Alabama recused himself from the Russia investigation in early 2017. While Sessions was the first senator to back Trump, and has been central in passing key planks of Trump’s agenda -- particularly on border enforcement and law and order -- Trump has repeatedly slammed him publicly.
In the latest interview, Trump said his frustration extends beyond the Russia recusal. “I’m not happy at the border, I’m not happy with numerous things, not just this,” he said. However, when asked about the Hill interview by reporters, Trump appeared to mildly walk back his comments. "I'm disappointed in the attorney general for numerous reasons but we have an attorney general -- I'm disappointed in the attorney general for many reasons and you understand that," he said.
- TUNE IN TONIGHT: Don't miss Sean Hannity's exclusive interview with President Trump in Las Vegas on 'Hannity,' 9 p.m. ET Thursday
- Trump slams Sessions on Twitter, says attorney general is hurting GOP in midterms
'LOST' CHILDREN: Twice in less than a year, the federal government has lost track of nearly 1,500 migrant children after placing them in the homes of sponsors across the country, federal officials have acknowledged... The Health and Human Services Department, the Associated Press reported, recently told Senate staffers that case managers could not find 1,488 children after they made follow-up calls to check on their safety from April through June. That number represents about 13 percent of all unaccompanied children the administration moved out of shelters and foster homes during that time. The agency first disclosed that it had lost track of 1,475 children late last year, and it came under fire at a Senate hearing in April.
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AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS
HILLARY'S HYPOCRISY: "It's really unbelievable if [Hillary] said all women have a right to be heard ... Why not me, Kathleen [Willey] and Juanita [Broaddrick]?" – Paula Jones, who says Bill Clinton sexually harassed her when he was governor of Arkansas, on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," calling out Hillary Clinton for demanding due process for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's accuser. WATCH
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FOX NEWS OPINION
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#OnThisDay
2017: Hurricane Maria, the strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years, strikes the island, wiping out as much as 75 percent of the power distribution lines and causing an island-wide blackout.
2000: Independent Counsel Robert Ray announces the end of the Whitewater investigation, saying there is insufficient evidence to warrant charges against President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton.
1973: In their so-called "Battle of the Sexes," tennis legend Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, at the Houston Astrodome.
FOX News First is compiled by FOX News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your day! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Friday morning.
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