Delegates ask Montgomery County to investigate Kavanaugh

Eleven state delegates from Montgomery County are calling on local police and prosecutors to investigate allegations that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh committed sexual assaults while a student at Georgetown Prep in the 1980s.

In a letter addressed to Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger, State's Attorney John McCarthy and lawyers Debra Katz and Michael Avenatti, who represent women accusing Kavanaugh of crimes, the lawmakers asked local authorities not to wait for someone to make a complaint before starting an investigation.

“We believe local law enforcement has the authority to investigate allegations of crimes without need for a formal complaint, and we further believe third parties have standing to bring such complaints,” the delegates wrote in a letter dated Tuesday.

Those signing the letter were Kumar Barve, Al Carr, Bonnie Cullison, Ariana Kelly, Marc Korman, David Moon, Pam Queen, Kirill Reznik, Shane Robinson, Ana Sol Gutierrez and Jeff Waldstreicher. All are Democrats.

“We, the undersigned elected representatives of Montgomery County, Maryland, residents, are writing to express our concern about the need for an investigation into recent high-profile allegations of sex assault in our county,” the lawmakers wrote.

Montgomery County police have said it's not their practice to investigate crimes when they have not received a complaint. “At this time, the Montgomery County Police Department has not received a request by any alleged victim nor a victim’s attorney to initiate a police report or a criminal investigation regarding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh,” the department said this week in a statement. “The department recognizes that victims of sexual assault may not want to involve law enforcement and/or initiate a criminal investigation, and we respect that position. The department, however, stands prepared to assist anyone who reports being the victim of a sexual assault.”

The lawmakers urged local police to proceed regardless. “We hope you will choose to be proactive in ensuring proper investigation of the sex assault allegations in Montgomery County by Brett Kavanaugh,” they wrote.

Manger and McCarthy did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment.

Gov. Larry Hogan said Tuesday that the Senate should slow down Kavanaugh’s nomination process until it conducts a full and fair hearing. “It’s very disturbing. It gives me great pause. There are credible charges and big concerns. They need to be heard,” he said after an event in Montgomery County.