Faced with a simple yes-no question during his testimony before the Senate on sexual assault allegations leveled against him by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Judge Brett Kavanaugh dodged an answer.
Shortly before the conclusion a long day for the Judiciary Committee, which heard from both the SCOTUS nominee and his accuser, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) asked Kavanaugh whether he’d request an FBI investigation into the claims to get to the bottom of the issue.
“You’ve been asked during the course of this hearing by four different members by my count at least eight times today and also earlier this week on national television whether you would call for the White House to authorize an FBI investigation,” Harris said, adding that Kavanaugh had rejected the idea each time.
The senator then vouched for the integrity of the agency, noting it is staffed by “men and women who are sworn and trained law enforcement who in the course of conducting background investigations on nominees for the Supreme Court of the United States and others are charged with conducting those background investigations because they are sworn law enforcement and they have the expertise and the ability and the history of doing that.”
Offering Kavanaugh one more chance to call for a probe, Harris asked, “Are you willing to ask the White House to authorize the FBI to investigate the claims that have been made against you?”
But the judge evaded a direct response, telling Harris, “I’ll do whatever the committee wants.”
“And I’ve heard you say that but I’ve not heard you answer a very specific question that’s been asked,” Harris interjected, repeating her question again.
Continuing to avoid an answer, Kavanaugh then began describing the way in which investigations are conducted, noting he’s had his background examined before, then defending himself against Ford’s claim he attacked her at a party in the 1980s, stating, “No witness who was there supports that I was there.The FBI would gather witness statements.
That’s when Harris put an abrupt end to her inquiry on the matter, realizing she wouldn’t get much of a reply.
“I’m going to take that as a no and we can move on,” she said.
Watch the clip above via CNN.
[Image via screengrab]