Feinstein: Kavanuagh Records Must Not Be Hidden From American People

Washington—Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the National Archives said that it would not be able to complete its review of records from two of Brett Kavanaugh’s five years in the White House until the end of October:

            “The National Archives today announced that it would take until the end of October to produce records from Brett Kavanaugh’s two years in the White House Counsel’s office.

            “The only documents that will be available before then are those that have been personally approved by President George W. Bush’s private lawyer, a man who also represents Steve Bannon, Don McGahn and Reince Priebus. This has never been done before and is clearly a way to disregard the requirements of thePresidential Records Act.

            “The law confers responsibility for the review process to the archivist to determine which documents should be classified as presidential records. The former president’s role is limited to determining whether to assert executive privilege.

            “This is not a political dispute between parties. This is an issue of what is required under the law. Republicans are ignoring the intent and the letter of the law, as well as their own standards from previous nominations.

            “Republicans must not rush this nomination and should reconsider their plan to hide much of his record from the American people. If confirmed, Brett Kavanaugh would sway the Supreme Court for generations. The fate of women’s constitutional freedoms and access to health care for millions of Americans are at stake.

            “If Republicans don’t want to review Brett Kavanaugh’s record, they don’t have to. But they shouldn’t deny the public and Democrats who want to fulfill their constitutional responsibility the opportunity to fully vet this nominee and better understand his views.”