Dianne Feinstein unloads on judiciary Republicans for obstructing Kavanaugh investigation

The Senate Judiciary committee held a vote Friday on whether embattled judge Brett Kavanaugh would be appointed to the Supreme Court, after a series of sexual assault allegations threatened to derail his nomination.

Democrats slammed their colleagues for rushing a vote without conducting a thorough investigation after highly credible testimony from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a woman who's accusing Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in high school.

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) gave a powerful statement decrying Republicans' rush to vote, as well as the fact that they spent more time attacking and blaming Senator Feinstein for her handling of Ford's allegations than seriously investigating the claims.

"Not one senator, as far as I know, has had the opportunity to question Deborah Ramirez ... They are right that we should not rush to judgment, and it's not fair to assume Judge Kavanaugh is guilty without gathering the information," she said.

"But it's equally unfair to have heard from a credible, poised, and brave witness and simply ignore what we heard and move forward immediately," Feinstein said.

"Dr. Ford provided credible, powerful testimony that deserves to be considered, and not dismissed" she declared. "I hoped we would do better."

She observed that Republicans' strategy has not evolved much from the Anita Hill hearings.

"The Republican strategy is not longer attack the victim. It is ignore the victim."

"I can believe we can do better and I hope we are better," she concluded.

Watch: