Graham: Kavanaugh FBI investigation request about delaying process until midterms

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday said that Democrats calling for an FBI investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh are only trying to draw out the confirmation process past November’s midterm elections.

{mosads}Graham said on Twitter that the calls for an FBI probe are “not about finding the truth” but are about “delaying the process.” 

“Requiring an FBI investigation of a 36 year old allegation (without specific references to time or location) before Professor Ford will appear before the Judiciary Committee is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections,” Graham wrote Wednesday over twitter.

Requiring an FBI investigation of a 36 year old allegation (without specific references to time or location) before Professor Ford will appear before the Judiciary Committee is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 19, 2018

Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing Kavanaugh of attempted sexual assault at a party in the early 1980s, said late Tuesday night that she would not appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee until the FBI investigates her claims.

Kavanaugh and Ford have been asked to testify before the committee on Monday.

Ford has said that she does not recall when or where the alleged assault occurred, which could make it difficult to find corroborating evidence for her claim.  

The FBI has said that the matter does not fall in its jurisdiction.

“The allegation does not involve any potential federal crime,” Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said Tuesday in a statement. 

Democrats, who had previously asked for an investigation into the matter, immediately backed Ford’s request.

Republicans emphasized that they want to hear Ford’s testimony, but have said that they are moving forward with the hearing Monday, with or without Ford.

“It is imperative the Judiciary committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination and a committee vote to be taken ASAP,” Graham said Wednesday morning.

It is imperative the Judiciary committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination and a committee vote be taken ASAP.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 19, 2018

Republicans seem reluctant to delay Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote any further, having already pushed it back from its scheduled date Thursday. 

Ford’s allegations first came to light last week, just one week before Kavanaugh’s original confirmation vote, when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced that she was bringing secret accusations to the FBI.

Feinstein had the allegations since July, timing Republicans consider suspicious. 

Kavanaugh seemed to be on track for confirmation prior to the controversy, but Democrats may have the numbers to resist a Republican judicial candidate following the midterms.