DOMA hearing: weasel Sen. Chuck Grassley claims phantom witness bolted due to gay "threats and intimidation" against herself, friends, family; Grassley won't name woman; Maggie Gallagher says it's not her

The Washington blade reports on a stunt by Iowa Senator Charles Grassley in which he claimed his witness couldn't make it because she succumbed to "threats and intimidation" from gays.

“The minority very much hoped to call a witness today at this hearing to testify in support of DOMA, I’m sure she would have done an excellent job,” Grassley said. “She declined, however, citing one reason the threats and intimidation that have been leveled not only her but her friends and family as a result of her support of DOMA. She will continue to write on the issue but will no longer speak publicly.”

Then Grassley said that the woman he refused to name — the shrinking violet intimidated by gay "threats" — "will continue to write on the issue...”

The Blade also reported that Maggie Gallagher, of the National Organization for Marriage, said the phantom woman wasn't her.

Grassley could easily be Washington's Weasel of the Week, if the Family Research Council's Tom Minnery hadn't already cinched that honor by trying to hoodwink Al Franken.