Top Democrat referred Kavanaugh letter to FBI

WASHINGTON — The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said Thursday that she received a letter from a person about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and referred it to federal investigators.

“That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honoured that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said in a statement.

The letter describes alleged sexual misconduct involving Kavanaugh when he was in high school, according to a source. Democrats on the judiciary committee first learned about the letter at a meeting Wednesday night. The letter had been relayed to Feinstein by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., the person said.

The White House defended Kavanaugh in a statement, calling the latest controversy an “11th-hour attempt to delay his confirmation.”

“Throughout his confirmation process, Judge Kavanaugh has had 65 meetings with senators — including with Senator Feinstein — sat through over 30 hours of testimony, addressed over 2,000 questions in a public setting and additional questions in a confidential session. Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the spectre of new ‘information’ about him,” said spokesperson Kerri Kupec.

A person familiar with the matter confirmed that the letter was referred to the FBI. The Justice Department declined to comment, and Kavanaugh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Feinstein did not disclose the contents of the letter when pressed Thursday, and Senate Judiciary Committee chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he had not seen it. The controversy arose in the final stages of Kavanaugh’s confirmation process, as Democrats sought to delay the process.

Senate majority whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, dismissed the issue on Twitter.

“Let me get this straight: this is (a) statement about (a) secret letter regarding a secret matter and an unidentified person. Right,” he tweeted.

“I will add: the FBI already performed and has reported on a background investigation on the nominee and this has been made available to all Senators on the judiciary committee.”