Judiciary Committee Refers Potential False Statements for Criminal Investigation
WASHINGTON – The Senate
Judiciary Committee today referred for criminal investigation apparent false
statements made to committee investigators alleging misconduct by Judge Brett
Kavanaugh. In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director
Chris Wray, Chairman Chuck Grassley sought a criminal review of the actions by
a named individual who provided Congress with the information, diverting
Committee resources from an ongoing investigation.
Committee
investigators have actively pursued a number of tips the committee has received
regarding the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, though the
committee has not been able to substantiate any allegations of wrongdoing by
Judge Kavanaugh. One tip was referred to the committee by staff for Sen.
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I). While Whitehouse referred the accuser to a
reporter, the committee took the claim seriously and questioned Judge Kavanaugh
about the allegations under penalty of felony. Judge Kavanaugh denied any
misconduct. After the transcripts
of that interview became public, the individual recanted the claims on a
social media post.
“The Committee is grateful to citizens who come forward with relevant information in good faith, even if they are not one hundred percent sure about what they know. But when individuals provide fabricated allegations to the Committee, diverting Committee resources during time-sensitive investigations, it materially impedes our work. Such acts are not only unfair; they are potentially illegal. It is illegal to make materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements to Congressional investigators. It is illegal to obstruct Committee investigations,” Grassley said in the letter.
Grassley
has called on the Justice Department and the FBI to review the matter as a
possible violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1001 and 1505, portions of the U.S. code
criminalizing the sharing of materially false information with committee
investigators and obstruction of proceedings of congressional committees.
Grassley
letter to DOJ and FBI is available HERE.
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