UPDATE – President Trump has ordered a limited, one-week, investigation of sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh.
“I’ve ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh’s file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.”
The statement was made by spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.
Earlier the Senate judiciary committee sent the nomination of Kavanaugh for the US Supreme Court to the full Senate. The vote was along party lines – 11-10.
Washington, DC – Senate judiciary committee should halt the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation until an FBI probe, the American Bar Association says.
The powerful ABA with 400,000 law-members wrote a letter late Thursday night to Republican and Democrat leaders, Chairman Charles Grassley and Dianne Feinstein urging them not to rush the confirmation.
“The American Bar Association urges the United States Senate Judiciary Committee (and. as appropriate, the full Senate) to conduct a confirmation vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States only after an appropriate background check into the allegations made by Professor Ford and others is completed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
“We make this request because of the ABA’s respect for the rule of law and due process under law.
“The basic principles that underscore the Senate’s constitutional duly of advice and consent on federal judicial nominees require nothing less than a careful examination of the accusations and tacts by the FBI,” said ABA President Robert (Bob) M Carlson.
In a strongly worded letter, he said: “Each appointment to our nation’s Highest Court (as with all others) is simply too important to rush to a vote.”
“Deciding lo proceed without conducting additional investigation would not only have a lasting impact on the Senate’s reputation. but it will also negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court.”
“lt must remain an institution that will reliably follow the law and not politics.”
“Respectfully, the Senate should recognize that a thorough FBI investigation will demonstrate its commitment to a Supreme Court that is above reproach.”
The nomination is expected to go to a vote Friday despite day long hearing where Kavanaugh defended himself against accusations of sexual assault by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.
in a highly partisan attack, Kavanaugh accused Democrats of seeking revenge. He denies the allegations made by three women.
