Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted Monday that a decision to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in the face of sexual assault allegations would be a stain on the Republican Party for years to come.
“In the face of multiple allegations against Judge Kavanaugh, the FBI should reopen the background check investigation and we should conduct a hearing where the appropriate witnesses are called in respect given to both the accuser and the accused,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Anything less will be viewed by the American people and, I believe, judged by history as a stain on Republicans in the Senate and a stain on the integrity on the majesty of the Supreme Court.”
Schumer called on Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Chuck Grassley or Iowa, the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, to let the FBI reopen it’s background check into Kavanaugh. He also called for Thursday’s hearing to include witnesses beyond Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the initial accuser against the judge.
Schumer argued that Republicans should welcome an FBI investigation, if Kavanaugh is telling the truth in his denial of accusations, adding that McConnell has showed himself to be in a bind.
“That shows someone in a pickle,” Schumer said. “That shows someone who’s dug in a deep hole. If you really believed these allegations are part of despicable smear job, Leader McConnell, why don’t you call for an FBI investigation?”
Schumer said he believes the allegations being put forth by Ford. He did not comment extensively about new allegations made by Deborah Ramirez, whose allegations against the judge were published Sunday night.
Schumer’s comments came just over an hour after McConnell said on the Senate floor that he plans to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination in the near future and labeled the attacks a “shameful, shameful smear campaign.”
