![]() The FBI sent the information to the Trump White House the next day and, on that day, the White House asked the FBI to perform a limited investigation on the new allegations. That was almost a week after the confirmation hearing for Kavanaugh had ended. 12, 2018, a Democratic senator sent the FBI information regarding allegations of sexual assault. Kavanaugh’s first background investigation was completed and disseminated on July 18, 2018, after interviews with 49 individuals over five days. However, the background investigation itself is not a criminal investigation. Under the Obama MOU, the FBI promptly notifies the “requesting entity” if it learns of new information before a candidate assumes a nominated position that would raise questions about the “candidate's suitability or trustworthiness.” Clearly, the FBI can investigate any substantial evidence of a crime. The DOJ conducts background investigations pursuant to a March 2010 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the DOJ and the White House. That led to media assertions that FBI Director Christopher Wray may have “lied” when he said the investigation was “by the book.” The problem is, it may well have been by the book - or at least by the memorandum, a memorandum written by the Obama White House. Only a few tips were investigated instead, the FBI sent them to the Trump White House. ![]() Tyson disclosed that the FBI “received over 4,500 tips, including phone calls and electronic submissions,” after reopening the Kavanaugh investigation following allegations of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford. There is no excuse for failing to respond to members of Congress on such questions, particularly given their oversight responsibilities of the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ). Whitehouse and others are correct in objecting to the fact that these senators asked two years earlier about these tips and any investigation. To call the letter “delayed” is an understatement by a measure of years. The letter was a delayed response to an earlier inquiry on the investigation of tips given to the FBI during Kavanaugh’s heated confirmation process. ![]() Whitehouse and Chris Coons Chris Andrew Coons House passes bill to expedite financial disclosures from judges Overnight Energy & Environment - Presented by ExxonMobil - Dems seek to preserve climate provisions Democrats wrangle to keep climate priorities in spending bill MORE (D-Del.). The furious allegations of a cover-up began this week with a letter from Assistant FBI Director Jill Tyson to Sens. It may not “feel like news” because the most newsworthy aspect of this controversy is, instead, the renewed - mostly implicit - call to remove Kavanaugh from the Supreme Court. We have become so inured to all the shamming in plain sight that having it confirmed years later barely even feels like news.” And Slate's Dahlia Lithwick may have set a record for “sham” references (six) in a single short column, declaring that “because the shamming … happened openly, the revelation that it was shamatory feels underwhelming. ![]() The disclosure that the FBI received thousands of uninvestigated “tips” against now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh Brett Michael Kavanaugh What's that you smell in the Supreme Court? The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden talks up bright side beneath omicron's cloud Overnight Health Care - Presented by March of Dimes - Supreme Court weighs abortion restrictions MORE also led columnists to characterize the investigation as anything from “laughable” to “lying” in a confirmation cover-up. Now, however, Whitehouse and other Democrats are denouncing the same FBI as having run a “sham” investigation. Sheldon Whitehouse Sheldon Whitehouse What's that you smell in the Supreme Court? The Hill's Morning Report - Ins and outs: Powell renominated at Fed, Parnell drops Senate bid On The Money - Biden sticks with Powell despite pressure MORE (D-R.I.) denounced those alleging a “sham investigation” as “spreading a false narrative” for political purposes. If it sounds like a Russia investigation redux, think again.įor years, Democrats in Congress defended the FBI over its mishandling of the Russia collusion investigation. Indeed, the conspiracy du jour has all of the favorite elements: a corrupted FBI, a powerful protected person, buried evidence of possible crimes. It appears Washington has another conspiracy to make this a long, hot summer. ![]()
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