Feinstein Under Fire, Scrambles to Walk Back 'Truthful' Comment About Kavanaugh Accusation

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein has come under heavy fire from both sides of the aisle for her handling of the unsubstantiated accusation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh about an alleged sexual assault dating back 36 years, when the accuser and Kavanaugh were both in high school. Feinstein only ramped up the pressure on herself on Tuesday with a comment she is now scrambling to walk back.

Speaking to Fox News Tuesday, Feinstein said she “can’t say everything’s truthful” about the accusation from California professor Christine Blasey Ford.

Ford, said Feinstein, is “a woman that has been, I think, profoundly impacted, on this,” Fox’s Chad Pergram reports. “I can’t say that everything is truthful. I don’t know,” Feinstein added.

Feinstein also told Fox that she knows that Ford “did not want to go public,” which is “why I made the letter,” but the situation was taken out of her control. Asked what will happen if Ford decides not to testify Monday, Feinstein said, “I have no say,” stressing that the handling of the hearing is in Republicans’ hands.

Within an hour of her “truthful” comments causing a stir among media outlets on the left and right, Feinstein “clarified” that she believes the accuser is “credible.”

Feinstein just now clarifies: “Look I believe she is credible. What we have wanted is an investigation carried out to look at the facts before there was a hearing. The republican majority is apparently not going to do that. But based on what I know at this stage she is credible.” https://t.co/yDldaHTrDe

— Alan He (@alanhe) September 18, 2018

Feinstein's "I can't say everything is truthful" quote is accurate. Just ran on Fox. pic.twitter.com/MEkrRgG8oV

— Elliott Schwartz (@elliosch) September 18, 2018