White House gives FBI freer rein in probe
The White House has given the FBI clearance to interview anyone it wants to by Friday in its investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The new guidance, described to The Associated Press by a person familiar with it, was issued to the FBI over the weekend in response to Democratic and news media pushback that the scope of the probe was too narrow.
It comes as the FBI presses ahead with its investigation, questioning in recent days at least two people about accusations of misconduct against Kavanaugh dating to when he was in high school and college.
President Donald Trump, addressing those concerns at a news conference Monday, said he wants the FBI to do a “comprehensive” investigation and “it wouldn’t bother me at all” if agents pursued accusations made by three women who have come forward publicly. But he also said Senate Republicans are determining the parameters of the investigation and “ultimately, they’re making the judgment.”
“My White House will do whatever the senators want,” Trump said. “The one thing I want is speed.”
The Republican senator who suddenly sits at the center of the explosive Supreme Court debate vowed Monday to ensure the FBI does “a real investigation” into Trump’s nominee as he trekked across New England while exploring a possible run for president.
“It does us no good to have an investigation that just gives us more cover,” Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake told hundreds of young people at the Forbes Under 30 Summit.
Three days ago, Flake single-handedly delayed Kavanaugh’s confirmation proceedings by insisting on an FBI investigation as a condition for his support.