Occasionally Senators may take interest in a letter, and ask for a sworn statement; a controversial letter may escalate up to a request to testify or [[subpoena]]. It is not uncommon at all for partisans to impugn a nominee's character, especially if a personal relationship existed. It was at this step in the [[Anita Hill]], [[Blasey Ford]] cases Democrat staffers illegally leaked unvetted information, putting public pressure on the letter writer to make sworn statements, and even public testimony. A person of some stature, a college professor for example (as Anita Hill and Blasey Ford are), then may feel compelled to give questionable or suspect testimony to mitigate damage to their reputation, having little or no idea at the start of the process they may be thrust into the limelight against their will.
Time and again throughout the Kavanaugh smear, partisans made unsworn allegations to [[mainstream media]] outlets eager to publish sensationalize and broadcast smears, and either refused to give sworn statements or gave false statements to Committee investigators.
==Blasey Ford/Feinstein allegation==