Feinstein on FBI Investigation: Incomplete, Limited

            Washington—Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today delivered the following remarks on the FBI’s supplemental background investigation of sexual assault allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh:

            “At 9 a.m. this morning my staff and I reviewed the FBI’s report into sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh.

            Let me be clear: I can’t talk about the details because this remains a confidential part of the background report. I hope that changes are made and we’ll be able to talk more about what the FBI did later.

            But what I can say is that the most notable part of this report is what’s not in it. As was noted by the White House, the FBI did not interview Brett Kavanaugh. Nor did the FBI interview Dr. Blasey Ford.

            We’ve heard from numerous people over the last few days seeking to provide information to the FBI. We’ve seen even more press reports of witnesses who wanted to speak with the FBI but were not interviewed.

            Deborah Ramirez’s lawyer said he was unaware of any corroborating witnesses who were interviewed. Candidly, what we reviewed today in a very limited time—I was there. I had to leave. The report is in parts. And I had the opportunity to read some, but not all of it.

            It looks to be the product of an incomplete investigation that was limited, perhaps by the White House I don’t know.

            But White House certainly blocked access to millions of documents from Judge Kavanaugh’s record—I know that—and ensured that  90 percent of his emails and memos weren’t available for the Senate or the public in the hearings

            It now appears they also blocked the FBI from doing its job. Democrats agreed that the investigation’s scope should be limited. We did not agree that the White House should tie the FBI’s hands.

            It’s simply not credible to say that public testimony in last week’s hearing is a substitute for interviews by FBI agents. Not only do senators lack the expertise of FBI agents, we were only given five minutes to question Judge Kavanaugh.

            So in my view, from what I saw, the investigation was very limited. And it will be interesting after all of the members have an opportunity to read the documents, and we have an opportunity in public to discuss our conclusions, what the findings are.”  

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