From the New York Times, I'm Michael Barbaro.

This is The Daily.

Today, the woman accusing Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault now says she wants an FBI investigation into her claims.

What that means for the confirmation process?

It's Wednesday, September 19.

As we come on the air in the West, we do have breaking news involving President Trump's and battled Supreme Court nominee.

Peter, it's Tuesday evening and we have yet another development in this story. What is going on?

Breaking news just in the last few minutes, have you tonight a letter from the accuser?

Letter that her attorneys have just moments ago sent to committee chairman Chuck Grassley.

Well, at this point, the climactic hearing that everybody expected for next Monday that would pit Judge Kavanaugh against his accuser Christine Blassey Ford now looks like it may or may not happen.

Sure, Peter Baker covers the White House for the times.

Dr. Blassey, the University professor from California, has said that she wants to have her allegations investigated first by the FBI.

And this is the bottom line.

I'm quoting as the Judiciary Committee has recognized and done before an FBI investigation of the incident should be the first step in addressing her allegations.

That, of course, even if it was granted as a request, couldn't happen probably before Monday.

And so the question is at this point where we go from here. Nobody knows for sure.

A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a nonpartisan manner and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearings or making any decisions.

She doesn't explicitly say she wouldn't appear before the committee if there's not an FBI investigation, but that's sort of the import you take from what she's saying.

You're saying your client will not sit down Monday for public hearing.

There's no reason that we should have a public hearing on Monday given what has occurred and when it has occurred.

Asking her to come forward in four or five days and sit before the Judiciary Committee on National TV is not a fair process.

So Peter, why were we reporting on Monday and much of Tuesday that this hearing was going ahead for next week with both Kavanaugh and Dr. Blassey testifying?

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