Dem senator on FBI Kavanaugh investigation: ‘It’s obviously a cover-up’

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said Thursday that the FBI investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was nothing more than a “cover-up” by Senate Republicans. 

{mosads}Markey said on “CNN Newsroom” that the bureau’s investigation, which did not include interviews with Kavanaugh or Christine Blasey Ford, the first woman to publicly accuse him of sexual assault, made a “mockery” of the Senate.

“It’s obviously a cover-up,” he said, as senators took turns reviewing a single copy of the final FBI report throughout the morning. 

“The Trump White House, working with the Republican leadership in the Senate, have deliberately circumscribed this investigation so that only a small handful of people will be questioned.” 

The FBI did not interview Brett Kavanaugh or Cristine Blasey Ford.

“It’s obviously a cover-up,” says Sen. Ed Markey. “The Trump White House, working with the Republican leadership in the Senate, have deliberately circumscribed this investigation” pic.twitter.com/IVeQs1wJJ3

— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) October 4, 2018

Since Friday, the FBI has interviewed nine people as part of its investigation. Democrats had suggested that a list of possible witnesses could be significantly longer.

Throughout the week, several Democrats hit the bureau for not interviewing Ford, who last week testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding her allegation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her during a high school party in 1982. Kavanaugh has fiercely denied the allegation.

Reports emerged Tuesday and Wednesday that the FBI had not reached out to more than 20 potential sources who said they had corroborating information about the allegations against Kavanaugh and his history with drinking. 

“Many other people who have come forward to say they are willing to give information,” Markey said. “The FBI, the White House and the Senate leadership are just turning a deaf ear.”

The second woman to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, Deborah Ramirez, was interviewed by the FBI, but her attorney said the bureau did not conduct follow-up interviews with any of the witnesses Ramirez suggested. 

Ramirez’s attorney, John Clune, on Tuesday tweeted that the FBI “is not conducting — or not being permitted to conduct — a serious investigation.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said Thursday that the FBI report does not indicate any corroboration of sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh. 

“This is making a mockery of the constitutional responsibility of the Senate, the Trump White House has orchestrated it, the Republican leadership has acquiesced to it, but ultimately, it is the American people who are being disserved by not allowing their elected senators to even read or understand … the total comprehensive body of knowledge … about this man,” Markey said on CNN.

The Senate is expected to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination sometime this weekend. Kavanaugh has denied any wrongdoing.