The FBI’s Kavanaugh investigation
What happened
Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court hung in the balance this week as the FBI conducted an investigation into the sexual assault allegations against him, at the insistence of wavering Republican senators. After hearing emotional testimony from both Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused the judge of sexually assaulting her when they were both teenagers, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona said the issue of who was telling the truth “is tearing the country apart,” and that he could not vote for Kavanaugh without further clarification from the FBI. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Flake in backing an investigation. But House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would call for a vote as soon as the FBI concluded its expanded background check. “The time for endless delay and obstruction has come to a close,” McConnell said.
President Trump ordered the FBI to conduct an investigation into the allegations from Blasey Ford as well as from Deborah Ramirez, a former Yale classmate who has accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her at a college party. But the FBI reportedly was not given authority to look into Kavanaugh’s drinking habits in high school and college or whether he told the truth during his Senate testimony. Initially, the White House provided the bureau with a list of only four witnesses to question; after backlash from Democrats, the White House clarified that the FBI could interview anyone agents felt necessary, as long as the investigation wrapped up within one week. Ramirez’s attorney, John Clune, said she provided more than 20 names to the FBI, but there’s no indication that the FBI has contacted any of them. “We have great concern that the FBI is not conducting—or not being permitted to conduct—a serious investigation,” Clune said. The FBI’s report was due be sent to the Senate after The Week went to press.
What the editorials said
Democrats got what they wanted by delaying the vote on Kavanaugh, said WashingtonExaminer.com. Their real agenda is to prevent President Trump from filling this seat until, they hope, “they take over the Senate in the midterm elections.” Then they’ll refuse to confirm anyone until 2020. If the FBI doesn’t find any proof of the sexual assault allegations, Democrats will undoubtedly “move the goalposts” and say the bureau “wasn’t given enough time or manpower or resources.” But it’s impossible for the FBI or Kavanaugh to prove he’s innocent, and if no evidence of guilt is found, “the Senate must disregard the accusation” and promptly “confirm an excellent nominee.”
What next?