The FBI has handed over its supplemental background check on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is expected to review the file later on Thursday.
Sen. Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) confirmed the receipt of the documents, emphasizing on Twitter that there would be “alternating EQUAL access for senators to study content.”
Supplemental FBI background file for Judge Kavanaugh has been received by @senjudiciary Ranking Member Feinstein & I have agreed to alternating EQUAL access for senators to study content from additional background info gathered by non-partisan FBI agents 1/3
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 4, 2018
FBI supplement requested Friday sept 28 by bipartisan group of senators w specific scope of current/credible allegations. Dr Ford & Judge Kavanaugh had opportunity to testify under oath b4 public/cmte to tell senators what they know 2/3
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 4, 2018
This FBI material will b handled per 2009 memorandum of understanding/MOU signed btwn Obama WHCounsel & then-SJC Chairman Leahy. Thats latest memorialization of this “loan agreement” of ExecBranch material. Feinstein, Durbin, Schumer, & others were on SJC in 09 & didnt object 3/3
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 4, 2018
The investigation centered around the allegations that Christine Blasey Ford and Demobrah Ramirez brought against Kavanaugh, accusing the judge of sexually assaulting them during his high school and college years.
However, attorneys for Ford were quick to criticize the investigation.
An FBI supplemental background investigation that did not include an interview of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford—nor the witnesses who corroborate her testimony—cannot be called an investigation,” an attorney representing Ford said Wednesday, according to the Wall Street Journal. “We are profoundly disappointed that after the tremendous sacrifice she made in coming forward, those directing the FBI investigation were not interested in seeking the truth.”
Meanwhile, some Democrats on the Judiciary Committee expressed outrage that there would only be one copy of the report available at a time, in a bid by Republicans to prevent any leaks.
“Get this — one copy! For the United States Senate,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on Wednesday, according to The Hill. “That’s what we were told. And we were also that we would be given one hour for the Dems, one hour for the Republicans. Alternating.”
In the meantime, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has already set up a procedural vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination for Friday, although not every senator has been completely forthright about how they intend to vote.
The Republicans hold a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate, so if two of the Republicans vote against party lines, the nomination is essentially done for. Currently, all eyes are fervently on Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). If for some reason the votes are split 50-50, Vice President Mike Pence will be the one casting the deciding vote, the WSJ notes.