New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (D) unloaded on the FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh’s background on Thursday, calling it a “bullshit” investigation that failed to speak to potential corroborating witnesses.
In a video posted from his Twitter account, the senator slammed both the FBI and Senate Republicans, who he said “restricted” agents from speaking to necessary individuals about Kavanaugh’s allegations of sexual assault.
{mosads}”If that’s an investigation it’s a bullshit investigation,” Menendez says in the video. “The reality is, that is not a full and thorough investigation.”
“The direction to the FBI on what could be investigated was extremely limited,” he continued, blaming Republicans for giving the instructions. “I hear a lot about lack of corroboration. Well, you don’t get corroboration if you don’t talk to corroborating witnesses.”
Kavanaugh has denied allegations of sexual assault dating back to his high school and college years from three women, and faces a vote on the full Senate floor within days following Thursday’s submission of the FBI’s supplemental background check.
Senators of different parties are viewing the report on that background investigation, which will not be made public, in alternating one-hour shifts ahead of the vote, a process which Democrats have called overly restrictive.
Kavanaugh’s nomination hinges on several swing-vote senators, as Democrats would need two Republican “no” votes to stop the nomination if every Democratic senator voted against him.
One key swing vote, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), came out in opposition to Kavanaugh’s nomination shortly after the report’s reception by the Senate on Thursday.
“Our actions right now are a poignant signal to young girls and women across our country. I will continue to stand up for them,” Heitkamp said in a statement.
Like Heitkamp, Menendez, according to recent polls, faces a tight reelection battle this year in New Jersey due to voter disapproval of his indictment for various corruption charges, which were dismissed in January.