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selective focus photography of person wearing pink fleece Pussy Power cap raising right hand
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Culture > News

HC Wake-Up Call: Ford Willing to Testify, Cohen Spoke to Muller Team for Hours & Halloween’s First Problematic Costumes Have Arrived

Emily Veith

Good morning, Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

Christine Blasey Ford Willing to Testify Before Senators About Kavanaugh Allegations

Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct when they were in high school, reiterated on Thursday that she would be willing to testify before senators about her allegations.

In a letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Ford’s attorney says her client “would be prepared to testify next week,” as long as conditions are considered to be “fair and which ensure her safety.”

Ford’s attorney asked to discuss the terms of her client’s testimony via a phone call on Thursday, adding that Ford still had a “strong preference” that “a full investigation” take place before she testified, USA Today reports. The attorney also said Ford’s safety is a high priority and a hearing on Monday “is not possible,” adding that the Judiciary Committee’s “insistence that it occur then is arbitrary in any event.”

“As you are aware, she has been receiving death threats, which have been reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and she and her family have been forced out of their home,” the email states.

Since Ford came forward publicly with her allegations in The Washington Post on Sunday both Ford and Kavanaugh have been the target of death threats.

Democrats on the Judiciary Committee requested that the FBI investigate the threats and the alleged hacking of Ford’s email, which was seen to “intimidate” her and “potentially prevent her from testifying about her credible allegations of sexual assault,” according to a letter sent to the FBI.

Kavanaugh sent a letter to the committee Thursday, accepting the invitation to appear before senators and give his testimony on Monday. The Supreme Court nominee wrote that he would like to have the hearing as soon as possible so “that [he] can clear [his] name.”

“Since the moment I first heard this allegation, I have categorically and unequivocally denied it,” Kavanaugh wrote. “I remain committed to defending my integrity.”

In a letter sent to Ford’s attorney urging her to testify, Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said he “reopened the hearing because I believe that anyone who comes forward with allegations of sexual assault has a right to be heard.”

“By hearing out both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh, the Committee will endeavor to discover the truth of the matter, and will be better able to make an informed judgment about Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination,” he wrote.

Grassley has said both Ford and Kavanaugh need to be heard.

Michael Cohen Spoke to Special Counsel About Russia & Possible Collusion

President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, has participated in multiple interviews lasting several hours over the past month with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, sources told ABC News.

Mueller’s questioning of Cohen reportedly focused primarily on all aspects of Trump’s dealings with Russia, from Trump’s financial and business dealings with Russia to the investigation on possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and it’s ultimate effects on the 2016 presidential election.

Special counsel also asked Cohen if Trump or any of his associates discussed the possibility of a pardon with him, sources said.

Cohen’s meetings with special counsel, which have taken place in Washington D.C. and New York City, have been voluntary, without any guarantee of leniency from prosecutors, ABC News reports.

Sources also told ABC News that Cohen is cooperating with a seperate probe by New York state authorities into the inner workings of the Trump family charity and the Trump Foundation, where Cohen served as an executive vice president and special counsel to Trump for nearly 10 years.

Last month in New York, Cohen plead guilty to eight felonies, including bank fraud, tax evasion and two campaign finance violations for making hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, who both claimed to have had affairs with Trump.

The First (But Probably Not the Last) Problematic 2018 Halloween Costume Has Arrived & People Are Not Having It

Another Halloween, another costume that completely sexualizes women. Yandy, a woman’s clothing brand, is drawing anger from the internet over their recently released “Brave Red Maiden” costume inspired by the Hulu series The Handmaid’s Tale on its website. And the costume is guaranteed to make you cringe.

Yandy description of the costume reads: “An upsetting dystopian future has emerged where women no longer have a say. However, we say be bold and speak your mind in this exclusive Brave Red Maiden costume featuring a red mini dress, a matching cloak with an attached hood, and a white bonnet headpiece.” To make matters even worse, the keywords “sexy Halloween costumes” is included in the tagged categories.

The hit Hulu show, which is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, focuses on a dystopian society and follows a handmaid named Offred (played by Elisabeth Moss) as she navigates this society where women are owned by the government. According to Hello Giggles, The Handmaid’s Tale recently earned 20 nominations at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 17th, and Samira Wiley, alum of Orange is the New Black, took home an Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series award for her role as Moira.

The show’s iconic red cloak, however, has become a symbol of women’s rights. Just earlier this month, women dressed in the red cloaks stood outside Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s hearing in silence.

So it’s completely understandable that Yandy’s decision to sexualize an ensemble that has come to represent something so important would upset people.

Here’s some of the reactions on Twitter over the costume.

A word of advice to Halloween costume producers: Just don’t.

What to look out for…

Someone found Meghan Markle’s old pump-up playlist from her former blog, The Tig, and it will definitely get you through to the weekend.

Emily has also authored political articles for Restless Magazine and numerous inspirational and empowering pieces for Project Wednesday. When she isn't writing, she can be found flying off to her next adventure, attempting new recipes, listening to one of her infinite playlists on Spotify, or cuddling with her dogs. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @emilycveith.