Grassley grants Kavanaugh accuser another extension after her lawyer sends very hostile letter

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) agreed late Friday to grant Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct in the early 1980s, additional time to decide if she will testify before his committee.

What did Grassley say?

He explained on Twitter:

In an earlier tweet, Grassley lamented over the complicated process. He urged Ford to testify before the committee, but to decide quickly so the committee can proceed with Kavanaugh's confirmation process.

The extension comes after Grassley earlier gave Ford a Friday deadline of 5 p.m. However, he extended the deadline to 10 p.m. after Ford's attorney, Debra Katz, called the "cavalier treatment of a sexual assault survivor ... completely inappropriate."

Within minutes of the new 10 p.m. deadline, Katz released a new letter characterizing the deadline as "arbitrary" while demanding it be extended.

"Its sole purpose is to bully Dr. Ford and deprive her of the ability to make a considered decision that has life-alterating implications for her and her family," Katz claimed.

When is the new deadline?

According to CNN, the committee has given Ford until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday to inform them of her final decision.