Worried that 72-year-old President Donald Trump has put handcuffs on the FBI to investigate of 53-year-old Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Democrats questioned the legitimacy of the week-long FBI probe into Kavanaugh’s background. Since last Thursday’s dramatic hearing with Kavanaugh and his main accuser of sexual assault Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford, Democrats and their media friends have published numerous stories on Kavanaugh’s excessive drinking in high school AND at Yale University. Last time anyone checked, the one-week FBI probe was supposed to confine itself to alleged incidents of sexual misconduct, wherever or whenever they occurred–including incidents alleged by Blasey-Ford, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick. But since the FBI probe started last Friday, the press has found only witnesses saying they witnessed Kavanaugh an angry drunk a Yale.
Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Az.), playing maverick in the absence of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Az.), insisted Sept. 28 on an FBI probe to determine whether or not Kavanaugh was telling the truth. Kavanaugh told the Senate Judiciary Committee under oath that he didn’t drink to the point of “blacking out.” Trump’s media critics have been busy, while the FBI does its job, asking Kavanaugh’s drinking buddies at Yale whether or not he ever had an alcohol problem. While admitting to liking beer, Kavanugh didn’t admit to having a drinking problem, only normal college drinking., something debatable, depending to whom you’re talking. Accused by Democrats of micromanaging the FBI probe, the White House denies any such interference. Trump said the FBI was free to look at whatever it wanted, as long as it met the one-week deadline. Flake warned today that any lying would disqualify Kavanaugh.
When the FBI interviews witnesses, they can’t guarantee the veracity of 35-year-old recollections but must, take all witnesses statements with equal skepticism. Democrats and their media friends want every damaging statement about Kavanaugh to give new life to their opposition to his nomination. Without rendering judgments, the FBI can only report on what they’ve been told by witnesses, letting the Senate Judiciary Committee draw its own conclusions. “They [the White House] cannot say, ‘Oh, hey, only interview the people in their neighborhood on one side of the street,’” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), concerned about White House restrictions. Trump said Sept. 29 that there are no restrictions on the FBI probe, despite the press warning about them. “You let the men and women of the FBI, the professionals, do their jobs,” said Klobuchar, hoping for a thorough background check.
Trump noticed that Democrats aren’t satisfied by Flake’s one week pause to let the FBI do one more background check on Kavanaugh. “Wow! Just starting to hear the Democrats, who are only thinking Obstruct and Delay, are starting to put out the word that “time” and “scope” of FBI lolling into Judge Kavanaugh and witnesses is not enough. Hello! For them, it will never be enough—stay turned and watch!” tweeted Trump, responding the slew of stories talking about Kavanaugh’s excessive drinking at Yale. Democrats want Flake to revise his position of the one-week FBI investigation, instead, letting it morph into what Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wants, an open-ended investigation. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) wants the FBI to interview at least 75 witnesses. Anything less for Coons would be a farce, urging the FBI to take as long as it needs to complete its investigation.
Watching Christine Blasey-Ford testify Sept. 27 in the Judiciary Committee, not one Democrat questioned the fact that she has not one corroborating witness. While not one of her friends that she said was at the Maryland home where she claims she was sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh in 1982, some have said they don’t doubt Kavanaugh’s story. Yet not one on them said they can remember the event she’s talking about. Not one Democrat on the Judiciary Committee doubts Blasey-Ford’s story, despite the lack of corroborating evidence. Republicans want Kavavanugh to be giving the presumption of innocence, despite the charges. When the FBI finished its witness statements, it’s doubtful anything new will pop up, other than statements that Kavanaugh drank too much in high school and at Yale. Whether or not Kavanaugh drank too much, that’s a far cry from allegations of sexual assault.
Democrats have no strategy left other than to let the FBI probe, however limited, play itself out. If there’s no news witnesses to step forward to corroborate Blasey-Ford or Ramirez, it’s not likely that FBI will change anything. Democrats don’t want Kavanaugh approved because of his conservative views on abortion, civil rights, gun control and presidential power. They’ve thrown every known obstacle at Kavanaugh, hoping to derail his nomination. When all is said an done, if there’s no corroborating evidence against Kavanaugh, other than second hand witness statements, the presumption of innocence should get Kavanaugh approved for the Supreme Court. Democrats want to tout Flake as their friend but, truth be told, Flake wants to allay doubts and get Kavanaugh approved. Unless there’s some major surprise, Kavanaugh could be sitting on the Supreme Court this Friday.
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