The FBI has wrapped up its hasty investigation of Brett Kavanaugh’s alleged sexual misconduct even earlier than anticipated, and Republicans seemed quite pleased with the results.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the report offered “no back up from any witnesses including those specifically named as eye witnesses by people who brought these allegations.” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said there was “absolutely no corroboration,” of claims of sexual misconduct brought forward. Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, a key swing vote, told reporters: “We’ve seen no additional corroborating information.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins, another swing vote, said, “It appears to be a very thorough investigation.”
Republicans are satisfied with the results because the investigation confirms what they wanted it to confirm. On Wednesday, the day before the FBI concluded its stunningly narrow investigation, NBC reported that the FBI had declined to interview more than 40 people with potentially useful information relating to the allegations because, according to sources, “agents have not been permitted to talk to many of them.” Democrats have been left in the dark about the process, and according to Massachusetts Sen. Elizbaeth Warren, senators had to share a single copy of the report on Thursday morning.
The vote will proceed on Friday.