Klobuchar: ‘White House should not be allowed to micromanage’ FBI investigation into Kavanaugh

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) expressed concern Sunday over reports that the White House is specifically limiting the scope of the FBI investigation into the accusations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

“What we are hearing are reports that they are trying to limit this,” Klobuchar told CNN’s “State of the Union” of the Trump administration and the investigation. “I’m very concerned about this because the White House should not be allowed to micromanage an FBI investigation.”

NBC News reported on Saturday that the White House is limiting the scope of the investigation to two women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, and that the FBI is not looking into the claims made by Julie Swetnick, who alleged in a signed declaration last week that Kavanaugh was among a group of young men in the 1980s who routinely sought to intoxicate women so they could be “gang raped.”

The White House has denied that they are interfering in the investigation.

Klobuchar said such close management from the administration would be unprecedented if it were occurring.

When pressed about the evidence she had of the White House closely guiding the investigation, Klobuchar said that she had only heard reports.

{mosads}Right before Jake Tapper interviewed Klobuchar on “State of the Union,” he spoke with White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who said the administration is leaving the investigation in the FBI’s hands.

“We’re not trying to interfere,” Conway said of the White House, adding that President Trump “very much respects the independence” of the FBI. 

The president ripped into NBC News Saturday for reporting that the White House is limiting the FBI investigation.

NBC News incorrectly reported (as usual) that I was limiting the FBI investigation of Judge Kavanaugh, and witnesses, only to certain people. Actually, I want them to interview whoever they deem appropriate, at their discretion. Please correct your reporting!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2018

Kavanaugh has denied the allegations made by all three women, calling Swetnick’s allegations, which were brought forward by celebrity lawyer and possible Democratic 2020 hopeful Michael Avenatti last Wednesday, “ridiculous and from the twilight zone.”

He spoke definitively about the allegations in his testimony last Thursday, calling them “a farce.”

When asked Sunday if she found Swetnick’s allegations credible, Klobuchar said, “I don’t know.”