But orders the re-opened background check to be done by the end of the week….
This clarification is hardly unexpected since Senator Jeff Flake has come out saying a limited investigation of Kavanaugh past would be unacceptable to him…
The terms of this job decision are now in the hands of several Senator ‘s NOT even Mitch McDonnell …..
Trump keeps repeating its NOT up to him…..
Seemingly keeping his distance if the confirmation does NOT go thru…
The New York Times reported on Monday that the White House gave authorization to expand the investigation from an initial limited list of witnesses, provided that the review is completed by the end of the week.
The FBI has already spoken with the four individuals it had been given permission to speak to, the newspaper reported.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Times report came shortly after President Trump insisted at a press conference that he wanted a “comprehensive investigation” of the claims against Kavanaugh, as long as it’s completed quickly.
“I think the FBI should do what they have to do to get to the answer,” Trump told reporters during a press conference announcing a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada.
“Now with that being said, I’d like it go quickly,” he continued. “And the reason I’d like it to go quickly — very simple, so simple — because it’s unfair to [Kavanaugh] at this point.”….
…
Trump on Monday did appear to leave the door open to changing his mind about his nominee depending on the FBI’s findings this week.
“Certainly if they find something, I’m going to take that into consideration,” the president said. “I have a very open mind. The person that takes that position is going to be there a very long time.”…
More on Brett Kavanaugh’s drinking that he said he didn’t do at Yale….
“As an undergraduate student at Yale, Brett Kavanaugh was involved in an altercation at a local bar during which he was accused of throwing ice on another patron,” the New York Times reports.
“The incident, which occurred in September 1985 during Mr. Kavanaugh’s junior year, resulted in Mr. Kavanaugh and four other men being questioned by the New Haven Police Department. Mr. Kavanaugh was not arrested, but the police report stated that a 21-year-old man accused Mr. Kavanaugh of throwing ice on him ‘for some unknown reason.’”
…
Several of Kavanaugh’s other acquaintances have been in touch with or working to contact the Justice Department in recent days after the White House gave the FBI authority to investigate claims by Ramirez and Christine Blasey Ford, who said Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when she was 15.
A Yale classmate of Kavanaugh’s, Kerry Berchem, told NBC that she had emailed an FBI agent about the text messages and sent a follow-up note, but had not heard back.
Berchem said in a statement to the outlet that she had “no direct or indirect knowledge about any of the allegations” against Kavanaugh.
“However, I am in receipt of text messages from a mutual friend of both Debbie and mine that raise questions related to the allegations,” Berchem said. “I have not drawn any conclusions as to what the texts may mean or may not mean but I do believe they merit investigation by the FBI and the Senate.”
CNN also reported that Ramirez had supplied the FBI with an “extensive” list of names to investigate in relation to her allegations….
Update….
Washington Post: “On Tuesday, the FBI moved beyond those initial four people, interviewing Tim Gaudette, a Georgetown Preparatory School classmate of Kavanaugh. Gaudette’s attorney, Kenneth Eichner, said an FBI interview took place but declined to comment further. Gaudette’s home was the site of a July 1, 1982, party that Kavanaugh references on his calendar and has become the focus of lawmakers’ concerns.”
“FBI agents have also interviewed Mark Judge, a key Kavanaugh high school friend who has denied any knowledge of a teenage gathering like the one described by Kavanaugh’s first accuser.”
”Another friend from Kavanaugh’s high school days, Chris Garrett, has also completed an FBI interview.”
Josh Marshall makes a pretty good case that Garrett is a key person in this story….
Politicalwire….
In a disgusting display Trump mocked Dr. Ford’s testimony at a rally in Mississippi tonight while deplorable pieces if shit cheered.
The line has been drawn. If you still support this asshole or his SC pick you are a deplorable piece of shit too. I don’t give a damn how “troubled” you are with him being the face of the GOP while you support every damn thing he does and every damn deplorable appointment he makes.
You’re not “Never Trump”, you’re a god damn joke.