After pushing for an FBI investigation, Senate Democrats are not pleased that the FBI probe essentially cleared Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of the unproven allegations Christine Ford made against him.
The FBI interviewed nine potential witnesses in search of possible corroboration of Christine Ford’s claim that Kavanaugh forcibly groped her when they were teenagers. Although the report is not expected to be made public as FBI reports are usually not made public to protect the confidentiality of witnesses, potential witnesses named by Ford previously said they had no knowledge of the party where she claims the attack occurred. They reiterated those statements to the FBI.
As LifeNews reported, Senators have viewed the newly-released FBI supplemental report on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and they are saying the investigation exonerates him.
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Now, Senate Democrats are not happy:
Calling the report a “product of an incomplete investigation,” the Senate Judiciary Committee’s ranking member Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California scolded the White House for tying the FBI’s hands.
“The most notable part of this report is what’s not in it. As we noted by the White House, the FBI did not interview Brett Kavanaugh, nor did the FBI interview Dr. Blasey Ford,” Feinstein said. “It now appears [the White House] blocked the FBI from doing it’s job.”
“We had many fears that this was a very limited process that would constrain the FBI from getting all the facts,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, reiterating Feinstein’s remarks. “Having received a thorough briefing on the documents, those fears have been realized.”
The rumored 2020 presidential hopefuls also quickly denounced the FBI report.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts called the investigation “a complete sham,” as did Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. Sen. Kamala Harris of California argued the that report “is entirely incomplete and insufficient.”
Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon called the investigation a “whitewash” and accused the Senate of “committing gross negligence” if Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court, while Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut referred to the investigation as “a cover-up” that was “straitjacketed by the White House.”
“If I had received a report like this when I was serving as a US Attorney, I would have sent it back for more work,” tweeted Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, further calling the investigation “incompetent”.
The comments are surprising given that Democrats lobbied hard for the FBI probe and said repeatedly that it would be quick and easy to produce:
· “It will not take a “tremendous amount of time,” but it is necessary if you truly want the facts to be known.” –Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
· “It will only take a few days.” –Sen. Chuck Schumer
· “The FBI has ample resources to do this within the 1-week period requested by the members of the Judiciary Committee. No one is asking that it take longer than a week …” – Sen. Chuck Schumer
· “I have proposed and talked to some of my colleagues, and I know others have as well, about a finite period for an FBI investigation, maybe a week. George H.W. Bush ordered that in the Anita Hill case, a three-day investigation. That happened.” – Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
· “I think I’m satisfied. … This is a very small universe of witnesses here and a very big FBI.” – Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
· “And I have conveyed to my friends and colleagues that I had wished we would take a one-week pause, one week only.” –Sen.Chris Coons (D-DE)
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley viewed the FBI’s report and says nothing it in confirms the claims Christine Ford made about Brett Kavanaugh and added that it’s time to move forward to vote on his nomination.
“I’ve now received a committee staff briefing on the FBI’s supplement to Judge Kavanaugh’s background investigation file,” the Iowa GOP lawmaker said Thursday. “There’s nothing in it that we didn’t already know. These uncorroborated accusations have been unequivocally and repeatedly rejected by Judge Kavanaugh, and neither the Judiciary Committee nor the FBI could locate any third parties who can attest to any of the allegations.
“Fundamentally, we senators ought to wipe away the muck from all the mudslinging and politics and look at this nomination with clear eyes,” Grassley said. “Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified nominees to ever come before the Senate. He’s served with distinction for twelve years on the nation’s most important circuit court and dedicated himself to serving the American public. We know that he will be an excellent justice because he’s been an excellent judge.”
“This investigation found no hint of misconduct and the same is true of the six prior FBI background investigations conducted during Judge Kavanaugh’s 25 years of public service,” Grassley said. “I trust that the career agents of the FBI have done their work independent of political or partisan considerations. That’s exactly what senators from both sides asked for.”
“It’s time to vote,” Grassley added. “I’ll be voting to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.”
