Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on Tuesday pushed the White House and the FBI to reopen its investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The request for a full FBI investigation comes after Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, announced a hearing will take place on Monday to discuss the decadesold sexual assault allegation made against Kavanaugh by Christine Blasey Ford. Democrats want the hearing and any vote delayed until the FBI re-examines Kavanaugh in light of Ford’s claim.
The FBI indicated late Monday that it would not be pursuing the claim that Kavanaugh assaulted Ford when they were both in high school, which Democrats told both FBI Director Christopher Wray and White House counsel Don McGahn was “disappointing.”
“The American people need to have full confidence that these credible allegations have been treated seriously and examined carefully,” they wrote. “This nomination should not be treated differently simply because of an artificial deadline to rush the confirmation process.”
“We ask again that the Administration immediately conduct an FBI investigation of Dr. Blasey Ford’s claims,” they added.
“We are extremely disappointed to learn from press reports that the FBI is apparently declining to take any action,” they said.
Democrats, led by Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, asked the FBI to conduct “appropriate followup” to the allegations made by Ford, including interviewing Kavanaugh, Ford, and other attendees at the party, as well as all other “relevant witnesses.”
Ford came forward for the first time publicly in an interview with the Washington Post published Sunday, accusing Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her during a high school party. Kavanaugh responded through the White House with a point-blank denial.
“This is a completely false allegation,” he said. “I have never done anything like what the accuser describes — to her or to anyone. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday. I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity,” he said Monday.
Democrats will get a chance next Monday to question Kavanaugh, in a hearing that will likely resemble that of the 1991 hearing when Anita Hill came forward with sexual harassment allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.
[Related: GOP looks to avoid Clarence Thomas repeat after new claim against Kavanaugh]
In their letter, Democrats noted that when then-White House counsel C. Boyden Gray received a request for an FBI investigation into Thomas — claims that also did not implicate a federal criminal mater — he ordered one that day.
“In retrospect, this process has been heavily criticized as being rushed and incomplete, yet even then Republicans ensured the FBI performed an investigation and submitted a report before the Judiciary Committee moved forward with public hearings,” they said.
Grassley told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Tuesday morning that there will only be two witnesses Monday. However, Grassley’s office said Tuesday that, so far, Ford’s lawyer had not responded to emails, throwing into doubt whether she will appear.
Kavanaugh, who was seen going into the White House on Tuesday, was nominated by Trump earlier this year.
Trump, who said he has not spoken to Kavanaugh personally since Sunday, rejected calls for the FBI to get involved.
“I don’t think the FBI should be involved because they don’t want to be involved,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the entire situation is “very unfortunate.”
Trump said he is willing to “delay the process until it’s finished out,” while criticizing Feinstein for refusing to share Ford’s allegation with her colleagues when she first received it in July.
‘We want everybody to be able to speak up and speak out. The fact is, though, this should have been done a long time ago,” Trump said. “When Sen. Feinstein had Judge Kavanaugh in her office … why wouldn’t you bring this up when he is sitting in her office for a very extended period of time?”
