Holton-Arms Students Could Attend Ford Testimony

BETHESDA, MD — Students at Christine Blasey Ford's alma mater, Holton-Arms School, will be allowed to attend a possible hearing next Thursday in which Ford would testify against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavauaugh on her allegation that he drunkenly tried to "attack" her during a house party in the early 1980s while they were both high schoolers in suburban Maryland.

In order to attend, students must first meet certain criteria, including providing a parental permission letter and a "cut slip," the school announced in a letter to parents Friday.

Ford told The Washington Post that Kavanaugh and a friend were both deeply intoxicated when they ushered her into a bedroom in Montgomery County. She said Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed on her back and, while the friend watched, and groped her over her clothes. Kavanaugh grinded his body against hers, she alleged, and tried to take off both her one-piece bathing suit and clothes she was wearing over it. Ford said she tried to scream but that Kavanaugh covered her mouth with his hand.

Ford, now a psychology professor in California, has, since the accusation became public, reportedly received death threats and for safety reasons has relocated her family.

"She wishes to testify, provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and which ensure her safety," her attorney, Debra Katz, wrote in an email which was obtained by The Associated Press after first being reported by The New York Times.

The school's letter sets firm restrictions for students hoping to attend the could-be testimony. It reads as follows:

Also on Friday, 1,000 Holton-Arms alumnae released a signed letter in support of Ford, writing, "Dr. Blasey Ford's experience is all too consistent with stories we heard and lived while attending Holton. Many of us are survivors ourselves."

Blasey Ford could testify to the Senate next week about her accusation if an agreement can be reached to "terms that are fair and which ensure her safety," a Ford attorney told the Judiciary Committee on Thursday, as reported by the Associated Press.

Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley had said that in the interest of making Ford comfortable, he'd be willing to let Ford testify in public or private. He offered to send committee aides to her California home to take testimony.

Patch staff reporter Dan Hampton and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Holton-Arms alumnae (L-R) Karen Bralove, Sarah Burgess and Alexis Goldstein speak to members of the media after they delivered a signed letter in support of Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault at a high school party about 35 years ago, September 20, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Kavanaugh is scheduled to appear again before the Senate Judiciary Committee next Monday to respond to the allegation of sexual assault by accuser Christine Blasey Ford, who was also invited to testify, but has requested an FBI investigation first, that have endangered his nomination to the Supreme Court. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)