Hill, Ford timelines tell different stories

I'm disturbed by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley's reaction to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's accusation of sexual assault by Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Sen. Grassley says he wants to be fairer to Dr. Ford than Anita Hill, but he refused to ask the FBI to investigate, when they did investigate Hill's accusations against Justice Clarence Thomas. (Editor's note:

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., joined by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, forced an FBI investigation late last week, after receipt of this community letter, by indicating they would withhold their final vote for the Kavanaugh nomination unless one was completed.)

The Senate gave Hill a month between informing the Senate of her story and her public hearing, while Ford was pushed to testify in less than two weeks.

Clearly, President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans do not believe Ford, as they are trying to sweep her story under the rug. When are we allowed to believe a woman has been attacked by a man? When they are dead and can't tell their story?

We, here in Iowa, have been tragically affected by recent attacks on innocent women, and one would expect Sen. Grassley, in this time, to protect women, not denigrate them. Sen. Grassley needs to show stronger morality, as a Christian, and a representative of our great state.

Jay Burken

Cedar Rapids