[V]ermont Sen. Patrick Leahy says he believes the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh may be withdrawn after the FBI releases the results of its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by the Supreme Court nominee later this week.
At a Burlington press conference Monday, Leahy said his view is based on discussions he’s had with Republican senators about the accusations made by three women against Kavanaugh and the judge’s response.
“I’m sensing a concern by many that maybe they ought to try somebody else,” Leahy said. “If the results of this investigation affirm what many of us believe — that she was sexually assaulted by a man with a serious drinking problem — then I would think that enough people would be independent enough to say, ‘We’re not going to vote for him.’”
Leahy’s remarks come after last week’s dramatic hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee, during which Christine Blasey Ford described how Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were both in high school. Soon after, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona surprised his fellow Republicans on the committee and joined the Democrats in calling for an FBI investigation before there would be a confirmation vote on the Senate floor.
Although President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he was directing the FBI to begin its week-long investigation and tweeted on Saturday that investigators would be able to “interview whoever they deem appropriate, at their discretion,” Democrats criticized the probe for being too narrow in scope over the weekend.
NBC News incorrectly reported (as usual) that I was limiting the FBI investigation of Judge Kavanaugh, and witnesses, only to certain people. Actually, I want them to interview whoever they deem appropriate, at their discretion. Please correct your reporting!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2018
Senate Republicans and the White House then came under fire for reportedly telling the FBI to only interview four people: Mark Judge and P.J. Smyth, Kavanaugh’s high school friends; Leland Keyser, a high school friend of Ford; and Deborah Ramirez, the second woman who accused the nominee of sexual misconduct.
But on Monday afternoon, the White House announced it would allow the FBI to interview anyone as long as the review is finished by the end of the week, according to the New York Times.
All 10 Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee also sent a letter to the White House and the FBI on Monday, demanding the scope of the investigation be broadened and outlining at least 24 people to interview — putting further pressure on the administration and Republicans.
“We ask that you notify us of the scope of the investigation and what the White House directed the FBI to investigate, as well as what steps the FBI will be taking,” the senators wrote. “We believe that providing this important information to the Senate and American people is the best way to ensure public confidence in the results.”
During his press conference, Leahy said that Kavanaugh’s “record of evasions in hearings” and his “problems with drinking” alone should be enough to make him unfit to be a Supreme Court Justice, even without allegations of sexual misconduct.
“I hope for the sake of the country, he’s not the next justice on the Supreme Court. I think it would diminish the court,” Leahy said. “There are better people. They could have a Republican, they could have a conservative on the Supreme Court, but have somebody the country can respect.”
