Trump Insists FBI Can Probe Julie Swetnick Accusation Against Kavanaugh
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
President Trump insisted on Monday he wants the FBI to do a comprehensive investigation into sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, but said he would leave the parameters of the probe to Senate Republicans.
“I want them to do a very comprehensive investigation. Whatever that means, according to the senators and the Republicans and the Republican majority, I want them to do that,” Trump said at a White House news conference. “With that being said, I’d like it to go quickly.”
Trump said he doesn’t object to the FBI investigating the claims of Julie Swetnick, a Jewish woman who says she was drugged and raped at high school parties attended by Kavanaugh.
Media reports have said the White House is only authorizing probes into the allegations of Christine Blasey Ford and Debbie Ramirez.
“It is up to me, but I’m instructing them (FBI) as per what I feel the Senate wants,” Trump said. “I want it to be quickly, because it’s unfair to the family and to the judge. It’s so unfair to his kids and his wife.”
“We don’t want to go on a witch hunt, do we?” Trump asked.
The Republican president was sympathetic to Kavanaugh, saying the nominee has been treated unfairly and that he believes Kavanaugh did not lie about the extent of his drinking in high school and college during testimony before the Senate panel on Thursday.
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