New report finds Brett Kavanaugh investigation was 'manipulated' by FBI

The FBI's investigation into sexual assault allegations against U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was “manipulated” and influenced by the Trump White House, a new report says.

Kavanaugh was confirmed on October 6, 2018, after being accused of sexual misconduct while in high school and college – allegations he has “categorically and unequivocally” denied.

Before Kavanaugh was confirmed, the FBI conducted an additional background investigation – a review conducted in addition to standard background checks and typically designed to address specific concerns.

Senate Judiciary Committee member Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat who has been an outspoken critic of Kavanaugh's confirmation, prepared a report that reached several “troubling” conclusions, said legal commentator and former District Attorney Matthew T. Mangino Newsweek.

These include that “supplemental background investigations were flawed and incomplete” because the FBI reportedly failed to follow up on numerous leads that could have corroborated evidence.

The investigation also said that “the Trump White House exercised complete control over the scope of the investigation” by preventing the FBI from interviewing certain witnesses and following up on leads.

It alleges that the FBI did not investigate thousands of tips received through the agency's tipline “as directed by the White House.”

“Instead, all Kavanaugh-related tips were forwarded to the White House without investigation,” the report continued.

It concluded: “The Senators' oversight investigation uncovers troubling gaps in the FBI's supplemental background investigation process for judicial nominees – gaps that allowed the White House to undermine the Senate's ability to fulfill its advice and consent responsibilities regarding the Kavanaugh case. to reliably perceive the nomination.”

If the report is true, it would contradict the way Trump described the investigation at the time, when he said the FBI had a “free rein.”

“I want them to use their discretion to interview anyone they deem appropriate,” Trump said.

In response to the White House report, Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said The Washington Post that Kavanaugh was “unjustly vilified and smeared with lies.”

The FBI said so Newsweek: “The FBI, in its role as an investigative service provider, responds to requests from the Office of White House Counsel and other government agencies to conduct background investigations on candidates for certain positions. In conducting these investigations, the FBI follows a long-standing, established process that limits the scope of the investigation to what is necessary.

“We have followed this process consistently for decades and have done so for the Kavanaugh investigation. The FBI does not have the independent authority to expand the scope of a supplemental background investigation beyond the parameters of the requesting agency. This is different from criminal investigations, where the FBI has broad authority granted by the Attorney General Guidelines to make investigative decisions.”

Newsweek emailed the Trump campaign and the Supreme Court Public Information Office seeking comment.

Kavanaugh was first accused by Christine Blasey Ford, who claimed she was attacked during a high school party in the summer of 1982, when she was 15 and Kavanaugh was 17. She claims Kavanaugh pushed her onto a bed, groped her and tried to take off her clothes.

After Ford made the allegations public, another woman, Deborah Ramirez, spoke out The New Yorker how Kavanaugh allegedly exposed himself to her and forced her to touch him without her consent.

Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them “calculated and.”
Staged political hit fueled by apparent pent-up anger over President Trump and the 2016 election.

The FBI investigation was just one part of the process that preceded Kavanaugh's confirmation. Kavanaugh and Ford testified before the committee and were questioned by senators and outside prosecutor Rachel Mitchell.

Materials related to the FBI's supplemental background investigation were presented to the Senate on Oct. 4, with senators given a one-hour window to review the documents, which totaled more than 1,600 pages, Whitehouse's report said.

“If senators relied on an incomplete supplemental report to make such an important decision, what confidence can the nation have in making a decision,” said Mangino, the former Democratic district attorney of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania Newsweek.

“It is shocking that any president, let alone Donald Trump, should be able to wield so much power over such an important legislative matter.”

“Going forward, policies and procedures must be established that outline the FBI's discretion in ancillary background investigations, and the Executive Branch should be limited in its oversight of such investigations. These investigations, or lack thereof, have changed the trajectory of the Supreme Court for years to come.”