U.S Senate Judiciary Comm. Refers Whitehouse’s Kavanaugh Accuser to FBI for Investigation

U.S Senate Judiciary Comm. Refers Whitehouse’s Kavanaugh Accuser to FBI for Investigation

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Saturday referred for criminal investigation the apparent false statements made to committee investigators alleging misconduct by Judge Brett Kavanaugh. The allegation was made by a RI man to U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s office claiming that Kavanaugh was involved in a rape incident in the summer of 1985 in Newport, RI.

READ GRASSLEY'S LETTER TO THE FBI HERE

In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director Chris Wray, Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) sought a “criminal review of the actions by a named individual who provided Congress with the information, diverting Committee resources from an ongoing investigation,” said the Judiciary Committee in a statement on Saturday.

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SEE EMAIL FROM WHITEHOUSE STAFFER TO JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

 

SEE THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE INTERVIEW OF KAVANAUGH BELOW

Committee investigators have actively pursued a number of tips the committee has received regarding the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, though the committee has not been able to substantiate any allegations of wrongdoing by Judge Kavanaugh. 

As the result of a tip which was referred to the committee by staff for Whitehouse.  While Whitehouse referred the accuser to a reporter, the committee took the claim seriously and questioned Judge Kavanaugh about the allegations under penalty of a felony. Judge Kavanaugh denied any misconduct.  After the transcripts of that interview became public, the individual recanted the claims on a social media post.

Whitehouse has refused comment to GoLocal on the incident.  

“The Committee is grateful to citizens who come forward with relevant information in good faith, even if they are not one hundred percent sure about what they know. But when individuals provide fabricated allegations to the Committee, diverting Committee resources during time-sensitive investigations, it materially impedes our work. Such acts are not only unfair; they are potentially illegal. It is illegal to make materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements to Congressional investigators. It is illegal to obstruct Committee investigations,” Grassley said in the letter.