What did the FBI inquiry into Kavanaugh result in?
4 October 2018
On 4 October, the FBI handed over its report on sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The findings are not for public eyes - but here's what we do know about it. Senators are taking turns reading the single copy of the report - which exists only on paper to prevent any leaks - in a secure room in the Capitol. The full Senate vote on whether Judge Kavanaugh gets a seat on America's top court was delayed while the FBI worked, and is now expected on Saturday. White House spokesman Raj Shah told CNN the FBI contacted 10 people and "comprehensively interviewed" nine of them. Official sources told US media the review focused on the alleged incidents involving Prof Ford and second accuser Deborah Ramirez. Here's who the FBI has interviewed, according to statements from their lawyers: - Deborah Ramirez, a Yale classmate who alleges Judge Kavanaugh exposed his genitals to her during a college party - Mark Judge, a childhood friend of Judge Kavanaugh, who Prof Ford testified was in the room during the alleged assault - Leland Keyser, Prof Ford's high school friend who was reportedly at the summer of 1982 party where the alleged assault occurred - PJ Smyth, another high school friend of Judge Kavanaugh, who says Prof Ford was at the July party - Timothy Gaudette, another high school friend of the judge's at whose house the party reportedly occurred - Christopher "Squi" Garrett, a close friend of Judge Kavanaugh, Prof Ford says she dated him for a few months in high school Republican Senator Bob Corker said the report is 46 pages long, with nine pages focusing on Mark Judge. But Democrats have criticised the narrow scope and time limitation of the FBI's inquiry - especially as neither the judge nor Prof Ford spoke with the FBI. Senator Dianne Feinstein said what she saw of the report, it appeared to be "the product of an incomplete investigation". Federal agents reportedly did not look into the judge's drinking habits or the claims of his third accuser, Julie Swetnick. A number of Judge Kavanaugh's former classmates have come forward since the hearings, willing to speak with the FBI about his behaviour, but it appears they have not been interviewed. Here are the people who have submitted statements or otherwise tried to contact the FBI: - Kenneth Appold, who was Judge Kavanaugh's suitemate at Yale, told the New Yorker he was "100% certain" he could corroborate Ms Ramirez's story - Two anonymous Georgetown Prep classmates who detailed the judge's drinking habits and questionable behaviour during high school - James Roche, another Yale roommate, who wrote in a piece for Slate that Judge Kavanaugh lied under oath about drinking - Kerry Berchem, a Yale classmate, who says she has text messages that suggest Judge Kavanaugh knew of Ms Ramirez's allegation before it was published In addition, Ms Ramirez's lawyers say they provided a list of 20 individuals with relevant information who have not been contacted by the FBI. Prof Ford's lawyers also shared a list of people who they said could support her claims. Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford were not interviewed. Not exactly. As many have pointed out, the FBI files a report but does not reach any conclusion regarding the credibility or significance of allegations. "They report any corroborating information that they obtain, or any contradicting information," former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told CNN, but added that "they do not make conclusions" in their reports. Former FBI Assistant Director Steve Pomerantz told Fox News: "Hopefully they provide enough information within their reports that allow a reasonable person to reach a conclusion based on the work that they've done." Because it is not a criminal inquiry, witnesses were not compelled to co-operate with the investigation, but lying to an FBI agent does carry the threat of federal charges. Yes. The FBI has completed a traditional background check - provided to any federal appointee - on Judge Kavanaugh, who is currently a District of Columbia appeals court judge. In his confirmation hearing, the judicial nominee himself said he had been through "six separate FBI background investigations over 26 years". This was the seventh. But typical FBI background checks never look back as far as 36 years ago, when Prof Ford says the assault took place. Mr Trump gave the order at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee, after Arizona Republican Jeff Flake made such an inquiry his condition for backing the judge. The president's party has only a razor-thin 51-49 Senate majority. That means that if all Democrats vote against confirming Judge Kavanaugh, he can only afford for one Republican to join them - since in a tie, Vice-President Mike Pence would get the casting vote. The timing matters because Republicans are keen to get their Supreme Court nominee - who would serve for life - confirmed before the US mid-term elections on 6 November. And Democrats would profit from seeing that process delayed - or blocked altogether. The FBI's 1991 investigation into then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas over sexual harassment allegations was open and shut in three days. He was subsequently confirmed by the Senate.
White House spokesman Raj Shah told CNN the FBI contacted 10 people and "comprehensively interviewed" nine of them. Official sources told US media the review focused on the alleged incidents involving Prof Ford and second accuser Deborah Ramirez. Here's who the FBI has interviewed, according to statements from their lawyers: - Deborah Ramirez, a Yale classmate who alleges Judge Kavanaugh exposed his genitals to her during a college party - Mark Judge, a childhood friend of Judge Kavanaugh, who Prof Ford testified was in the room during the alleged assault - Leland Keyser, Prof Ford's high school friend who was reportedly at the summer of 1982 party where the alleged assault occurred - PJ Smyth, another high school friend of Judge Kavanaugh, who says Prof Ford was at the July party - Timothy Gaudette, another high school friend of the judge's at whose house the party reportedly occurred - Christopher "Squi" Garrett, a close friend of Judge Kavanaugh, Prof Ford says she dated him for a few months in high school Republican Senator Bob Corker said the report is 46 pages long, with nine pages focusing on Mark Judge. But Democrats have criticised the narrow scope and time limitation of the FBI's inquiry - especially as neither the judge nor Prof Ford spoke with the FBI. Senator Dianne Feinstein said what she saw of the report, it appeared to be "the product of an incomplete investigation".
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Who did the FBI interview?
Federal agents reportedly did not look into the judge's drinking habits or the claims of his third accuser, Julie Swetnick. A number of Judge Kavanaugh's former classmates have come forward since the hearings, willing to speak with the FBI about his behaviour, but it appears they have not been interviewed. Here are the people who have submitted statements or otherwise tried to contact the FBI: - Kenneth Appold, who was Judge Kavanaugh's suitemate at Yale, told the New Yorker he was "100% certain" he could corroborate Ms Ramirez's story - Two anonymous Georgetown Prep classmates who detailed the judge's drinking habits and questionable behaviour during high school - James Roche, another Yale roommate, who wrote in a piece for Slate that Judge Kavanaugh lied under oath about drinking - Kerry Berchem, a Yale classmate, who says she has text messages that suggest Judge Kavanaugh knew of Ms Ramirez's allegation before it was published In addition, Ms Ramirez's lawyers say they provided a list of 20 individuals with relevant information who have not been contacted by the FBI. Prof Ford's lawyers also shared a list of people who they said could support her claims. Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford were not interviewed.
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And who didn't they speak to?
Not exactly. As many have pointed out, the FBI files a report but does not reach any conclusion regarding the credibility or significance of allegations. "They report any corroborating information that they obtain, or any contradicting information," former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told CNN, but added that "they do not make conclusions" in their reports. Former FBI Assistant Director Steve Pomerantz told Fox News: "Hopefully they provide enough information within their reports that allow a reasonable person to reach a conclusion based on the work that they've done." Because it is not a criminal inquiry, witnesses were not compelled to co-operate with the investigation, but lying to an FBI agent does carry the threat of federal charges.
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Has the FBI has reached a definitive conclusion?
Yes. The FBI has completed a traditional background check - provided to any federal appointee - on Judge Kavanaugh, who is currently a District of Columbia appeals court judge. In his confirmation hearing, the judicial nominee himself said he had been through "six separate FBI background investigations over 26 years". This was the seventh. But typical FBI background checks never look back as far as 36 years ago, when Prof Ford says the assault took place.
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Hasn't the FBI checked out Kavanaugh already?
The timing matters because Republicans are keen to get their Supreme Court nominee - who would serve for life - confirmed before the US mid-term elections on 6 November. And Democrats would profit from seeing that process delayed - or blocked altogether. The FBI's 1991 investigation into then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas over sexual harassment allegations was open and shut in three days. He was subsequently confirmed by the Senate.
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One last thing... Why did this take under a week?