RTThu, 04 Oct 2018 05:27 UTC
© Jim Bourg/ReutersPresident Donald Trump and US Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh
The White House has concluded that an FBI probe has found no evidence of sexual misconduct on the part of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the
Wall Street Journal reported.
It's not clear whether the Senate will come to the same conclusion as the White House.
The investigation, which was completed two days ahead of its Friday deadline, has been widely criticized by Democrats as incomplete. The investigation was launched in the wake of a string of allegations leveled against Kavanaugh as the Senate Judiciary Committee deliberated on his confirmation.
FBI agents interviewed three people in connection with the allegations made by Christine Blasey Ford, who says that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school. However, investigators did not speak with Kavanaugh or Ford.The Senate is set to review the findings on Thursday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced on Wednesday that he would call for a vote on Kavanaugh's nomination on Friday, giving senators "plenty of time" to review the FBI report. Republicans framed the FBI probe as a concession to Democrats, whom they have accused of trying to stonewall Kavanaugh's nomination. But the Democrats have sharply criticized the report's lack of thoroughness.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said that the FBI's failure to interview Ford, among others, "raises serious concerns that this is not a credible investigation."Ford's attorney also slammed the probe, claiming that
"those directing the FBI investigation were not interested in seeking the truth."However, Kavanaugh's supporters have pointed out that
the judge has already undergone a number of FBI background checks.Kavanaugh's contentious and somewhat theatrical nomination process has become a highly polarizing issue in the United States, galvanizing the #MeToo movement while also provoking deep suspicion among conservatives that Kavanaugh has been the victim of a liberal witch hunt.
While the Democratic establishment has rallied around Ford, her testimony before the Senate last week revealed that
the facts surrounding her alleged attack are far from clear. She was unable to provide a precise date or even location of the attack. A written statement from her former boyfriend also raised questions about the truthfulness of her sworn testimony.
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"With Leader McConnell's cloture filing, Senators have been given ample time to review this seventh background investigation," said Raj Shah, the principal deputy press secretary for the White House. "This is the last addition to the most comprehensive review of a Supreme Court nominee in history, which includes extensive hearings, multiple committee interviews, over 1,200 questions for the record and over a half million pages of documents. With this additional information, the White House is fully confident the Senate will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court."
Senators will be able to review the report on Thursday under tight security.
With a slim Senate majority, Kavanaugh's fate hinges on three GOP senators: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Jeff Flake. Should Republicans lose any votes, Sens. Joe Manchin and Heidi Heitkamp will be looked to as his next best hope.
Comment: See also: Senator Grassley releases major statement upon reading FBI report on Kavanaugh
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