Hillary Clinton: FBI investigation into Kavanaugh could be done quickly

Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that an FBI investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh wouldn’t take long.

“I don’t think it would be a lengthy investigation,” Clinton told MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show.” 

“I think it could be done in an expeditious manner. If they’re still trying to have a vote on this nominee, they could postpone for two weeks,” she said.

{mosads}The lawyer for the woman accusing Kavanaugh of attempted sexual assault, Christine Blasey Ford, said Tuesday that Ford would not testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee until the FBI has investigated her claims.

Clinton backed Ford’s decision, saying Tuesday, “I think that’s a reasonable request.”

“The White House could answer it very quickly, by asking the FBI to reopen its background check and to take into account the accusation that has been made and to gather the evidence about what can be known,” she explained.

Ford says Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her at a party in the early 1980s.

“The FBI does not make any judgment about the credibility or significance of any allegation,” DOJ said in a statement Monday. “The purpose of a background investigation is to determine whether the nominee could pose a risk to the national security of the United States. The allegation does not involve any potential federal crime. The FBI’s role in such matters is to provide information for the use of the decision makers.” 

Still, Democrats are pushing for an FBI probe into the matter, despite the agency’s lack of jurisdiction. 

Republicans have resisted, having already delayed Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote once so that a new hearing could take place on Monday, at which both Ford and Kavanaugh would have the opportunity to testify.

Republicans were expected to easily win the confirmation vote for Kavanaugh, which was originally set for Thursday, one week after Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) brought Ford’s allegations into the national spotlight.

-Updated Sept. 19 at 12:50 p.m.