Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser deserves to have her story heard, Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley said in a Monday statement.

The Iowa Republican’s first remarks after the identity of Kavanaugh’s accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, was revealed over the weekend indicated the chairman would work to hear her out.

“The standard procedure for updates to any nominee’s background investigation file is to conduct separate follow-up calls with relevant parties,” Grassley said. “In this case, that would entail phone calls with at least Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford.”

Grassley made no mention of a public hearing for either party to address the allegation.

Ford, 51, says she thought Kavanaugh might “inadvertently kill” her during a party while they were high school students after he and a friend corralled her in a bedroom and the Supreme Court nominee pinned her to a bed and groped her over a one-piece bathing suit.

Kavanaugh denies the allegation.

John T. Bennett contributed to this report.