Durbin Statement On Recent Reporting On Justice Kavanaugh's Confirmation Process
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding recent reporting around Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation process:
“During the Kavanaugh confirmation process, I repeatedly called for a neutral, thorough, and impartial investigation into the allegations of sexual assault involving then-Judge Kavanaugh. FBI career investigators were not allowed to conduct that type of investigation. The consequences of that decision will be felt for years to come.
“The American people deserve transparency, not concealment. As an initial step, the actions that the Administration and Senate Republicans took to stifle a neutral FBI investigation should be revealed, and the documents from Kavanaugh’s record that were hidden from the Senate Judiciary Committee should be disclosed. The FBI must preserve all records regarding its limited Kavanaugh investigation, including records about who tried to contact the FBI to share information.
“The House Judiciary Committee has already taken steps to achieve transparency by requesting Kavanaugh’s records from the National Archives; I strongly support this effort and call for further investigation into how and at whose direction FBI investigators were prevented from interviewing witnesses, following leads, and pursuing the facts. And, while I don’t expect it under Attorney General Barr’s leadership, a Justice Department that is committed to the rule of law should investigate whether Brett Kavanaugh gave false testimony under oath before the five-year statute of limitations expires.”
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