Kavanaugh says he didn't do it, but declines to bring in the FBI

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh insisted he was innocent of allegations of sexual assault, but under persistent questioning at his confirmation hearing Thursday rebuffed the suggestion he seek an FBI investigation that could clear his name.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., invited Kavanaugh to turn to White House counsel Don McGahn, who was in the room, and tell him to suspend the hearing and ask the FBI to investigate charges from Christine Blasey Ford that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers. The committee’s chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, interjected that neither the White House nor Kavanaugh controlled the process and the Republican majority wouldn’t suspend the hearing.

Durbin again asked whether Kavanaugh would endorse the idea of an FBI investigation.

“I welcome whatever the committee wants to do because I’m telling the truth,” replied Kavanaugh. In his opening statement, Kavanaugh deplored the effect the charges, by Ford and two other women, have had on his reputation and family.

“I want to know what you want to do,” said Durbin.

“I’m telling the truth.”

“I want to know what you want to do, Judge.”

“I’m innocent! I’m innocent of this charge.”

“Then you’re prepared for an FBI investigation?”

Kavanaugh responded that the FBI’s role in the nomination process was only to gather evidence and conduct interviews, not to determine the veracity of charges.

“They don’t reach conclusions, you reach the conclusions.”

“No, but they do investigate questions and you can’t have it both ways, judge,” said Durbin. “You can’t say here at the beginning I welcome any kind of investigation and then walk away from this.”

Kavanaugh’s other point, which he repeated several times, was that he had asked for this hearing more than a week ago, when Ford’s allegations, made in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., first became public.

Durbin asked again if he would support an immediate investigation.

“Personally, do you think [an investigation] is the best thing for the committee to do?”

Kavanaugh paused for several seconds before replying.

“Look, senator,” said Kavanaugh, declining to answer the question again, “I’ve said I’ve wanted a hearing and I said I’d welcome anything, I’m innocent, this thing was held when it could have been presented in the ordinary way. It could have been held and handled confidentially at first, which was Dr. Ford’s wishes as I understand it and it wouldn’t have destroyed my family like this effort has.”

“I think an FBI investigation will help all of us on both sides of the issue,” concluded Durbin.

Earlier in the hearing, Kavanaugh declined to endorse the idea of testimony from his high school friend Mark Judge. Ford said Judge was present during her assault and while Judge submitted a letter from his lawyer saying he did not remember that night, Republicans have declined to subpoena him for further testimony. Judge is currently hiding out at a beach house in Delaware.

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