Trump orders FBI investigation of Kavanaugh, as McConnell says nomination is 'moving' forward

[Zippyjuan]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018...inal-vote.html

President Trump on Friday ordered the FBI to conduct a limited "supplemental" background investigation into the allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans are "moving" forward with plans to vote.

“I’ve ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh’s file," Trump said in a statement. "As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.”

Trump's order came after after several undecided senators whose votes are needed to confirm Kavanaugh called for a weeklong FBI probe before a floor vote.

The Senate had been expected to begin debate on Kavanaugh's nomination this weekend, but after Trump's order, McConnell adjourned the body until Monday. A potential confirmation vote may not come until late next week, next weekend or perhaps the week of Oct. 7.

"This is a nomination that deserves to move forward -- and that is precisely what is happening," McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor Friday.

Added McConnell, "Now we will keep the process moving."

Earlier Friday, under pressure from Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked for a FBI investigation “limited to current credible allegations against the nominee," saying it "must be completed no later than one week from today.”

Kavanaugh, who has denied all the allegations, said in a statement he will "cooperate."

“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of 'background' calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me,” Kavanaugh said in a statement. “I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate.”

For days, Republicans have resisted calls from Democrats for the FBI to investigate the claims of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh dating back to high school and college, saying they were capable of investigating the allegations themselves.

But that changed Friday after Flake, who earlier in the day announced he would endorse Kavanaugh, called for a delay in a full floor vote to allow for an FBI inquiry “limited in time and scope.”

While backing Kavanaugh at the committee level, Flake said he'd only be comfortable moving ahead on the floor if the FBI investigates further.

Several other senators -- both Republican and Democrat -- on the fence joined Flake in supporting the move.

“I support this sensible agreement,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said.

“In order to fully and fairly complete our due diligence, allowing the FBI up to one week to supplement its background investigation is appropriate,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

“I support Sen. Flake’s call for a non-partisan FBI investigation into the allegations about Judge Kavanaugh – which I’ve been pressing for,” said Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.

"I applaud Senator Jeff Flake’s decision to rise above the partisan circus on display during this entire process,” said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

When asked if they could get the investigation done in a week, a senior FBI official told Fox News, "That depends on the schedules of everyone we'd have to interview, including the accuser, accused and witnesses.”

More at link.

[phill4paul]

Several other senators -- both Republican and Democrat -- on the fence joined Flake in supporting the move.

There are no Democrats "sitting on the fence."

[phill4paul]

Trump should probably ask Strozk and Page lead the investigation.

[Brian4Liberty]

Trump should probably ask Strozk and Page lead the investigation.

I was thinking Mueller, but you're right, they are not busy right now and they would be perfect choices. Did Trump give this order to Sessions, Rosenstein or Wray?

[UWDude]

Oh Trump and his fiddle.
Never been to a funnier hoe-down in my life.
The way he plays, and they just dance, and dance and dance.
He knows he has a winner with this one. This is gonna make America see red for a long time.
And Kavanaugh will be the next SC judge... ..right before election day.
It's not like he is taking chances.

He plays to that thirst for bloody justice so well.
How far will he take it? All the way to 1789?
I suppose beheading aristocrats is against the NAP.
I suppose I don't care either.
I really am looking forward to that military parade, 11/11, to be honest.
The maneuvering of this guy, is quite amazing.
He is a walking art of war, and art of deal.
And I believe, if he is willing to Nuke North Korea.
He is willing to have mass military tribunals for all the traitors that have infested the US government.
It is unfortunate for the left, that they are being exposed/executed first.
They can rest assured the counter revolution will occur as well. Trump will probably have died of old age, by then.
But if I play my cards just right, I might get to be on the death squads for both revolution and counter-revolution.
Justice is so severely needed.
And for that reason, I am deeply afraid he was not, and never has been willing to nuke north korea.

BTW Dr. Ford is deeply connected to the CIA.

The left, rejected a martyr-hero religion, only to push themselves into wanting to out-martyr their now hated original martyr religion. Out- jesus and out-love the hated stupid fairytale duped christians.

It is one of those unexpected first world diseases, like obesity is. Humanity is always full of surprises.

So they are pushing themselves further and further to right where they want to go.
They want to be martyred. Oh yes, their personal lives are so boring, (a symptom of following trends and not your center) they are so wrapped up in hate, and their social media image, tragedy is the most dramatic way to feel. So righteous, so callously destroyed.
Like a beautiful, open minded, caring understanding and mindful of other peoples cultures American woman being forced to submit to some mideastern islamic brute. Shivers.

So Kavenaugh one drunken night just pushed a woman he was drinking with against a wall, and started giving her a tonsil examination with his tongue? Sounds like somebody was about to get lucky.

That female suicide rate is going to start skyrocketing. Feminism will claim it is because of patriarchal oppression. In reality it will be because they latched on to a life of pleasing others. Even the desire to out-martyr the Christians, was all done out of caring about what the people they thought were duped stupid thought. Furthermore, it will be because of patriarchal genuflecting. Men will be unable to be men.

That is dupe stupiderer than even dupe stupid, which is pretty stupid.

[Aratus]

I want to change my vote from "NO" to "YES" because over the past 24 hours
Jeff Flake got POTUS Trump to inflict the FBI for one week on most of the folks
around Brett Kavanaugh, upon realizing nobody had ever dug deep, despite his
being right next to the good folks around the "W" after 911. This is a first, I feel.
Four Republicans have less of an excuse to flip in terms of Majority Leader Mitch.

[Aratus]

I voted "NO" in the poll. Right now, Jeff Flake worked out a compromise.
The Democrats would have preferred a 2 to 4 week FBI investigation...

[Aratus]

Emotionally, since the poll asked if he'd get
on our highest court, not IF he is the most
capable person to be in the position, my heart
thinks he is an idiot but my brain says that
Mitch McConnell has bulldozered him thru it.

[Aratus]

I was thinking Mueller, but you're right, they are not busy right now and they would be perfect choices. Did Trump give this order to Sessions, Rosenstein or Wray?

Why not have all of the above expedite this. Sessions, Rosenstein, Wray, Strozk and Page.
Why not have FBI people who were close to Clinton, Bush & Obama hit the pavement like
as if J.Edgar Hoover had just resurrected up from his final resting place. Question 200 to
1000 people, sent in the older, veteran agents who remember the Reaganite 1980s in full.

[Aratus]

Then, after a really big and final report on the whole bloody mess is done, praise
them all for their service and send them out the door by requesting they all resign.

[Brian4Liberty]

This is gonna make America see red for a long time.

Reminded of LBJ for some reason.

How many beers have you had tonight, Judge?

[RonZeplin]

Filing a FOIA request on the FBI "Sluts of Bethesda, MD" report.

[devil21]

Wait, I'm confused. Didn't Trump have a yuge problem with the FBI and even fire their Director recently? Now he trusts them to do an investigation into his SCOTUS nominee? It's so confusing trying to remember when I'm supposed to trust the FBI and when I'm not! /s


I'm sure this FBI report will drop some new bombshell that starts the drama all over again for the floor vote.

[Brian4Liberty]

Wait, I'm confused. Didn't Trump have a yuge problem with the FBI and even fire their Director recently? Now he trusts them to do an investigation into his SCOTUS nominee? It's so confusing trying to remember when I'm supposed to trust the FBI and when I'm not! /s


I'm sure this FBI report will drop some new bombshell that starts the drama all over again for the floor vote.

It will probably depend upon how many never-Trump, resist agents are on the case.

[ThePaleoLibertarian]

The FBI will find nothing and then the Democrats will claim the investigation wasn't long enough to find the truth, that nothing can be figured out in a week (other than Hillary's innocence after the Weiner computer discovery, of course).

[Brian4Liberty]

The Democrat strategy is starting to reveal itself. They will spend a week saying this person and that person and this angle needs to be investigated by the FBI, and when one of their “demands” is not met, they will call it an incomplete investigation.

[homahr]

This whole thing is tiresome. Why did Trump order an investigation? What's his strategy?

[r3volution 3.0]

This whole thing is tiresome. Why did Trump order an investigation? What's his strategy?

His advisors' strategy is to prevent the Dems from credibly claiming that the GOP doesn't care about sexual assault.

This was probably the best move for the GOP under the circumstances, though they'll still take a bit of a hit come election time, IMO.

[devil21]

The Democrat strategy is starting to reveal itself. They will spend a week saying this person and that person and this angle needs to be investigated by the FBI, and when one of their “demands” is not met, they will call it an incomplete investigation.

However, it was a Republican that initiated the idea in the first place.

[Brian4Liberty]

However, it was a Republican that initiated the idea in the first place.

After all of the Democrats trapped him in a side room and pressured him.

[dannno]

However, it was a Republican that initiated the idea in the first place.

Rino?

[phill4paul]

Why not have all of the above expedite this. Sessions, Rosenstein, Wray, Strozk and Page.
Why not have FBI people who were close to Clinton, Bush & Obama hit the pavement like
as if J.Edgar Hoover had just resurrected up from his final resting place. Question 200 to
1000 people, sent in the older, veteran agents who remember the Reaganite 1980s in full.

"Red scare."

[phill4paul]

After all of the Democrats trapped him in a side room and pressured him.

Pussy. He identifies as a pussy.

[Aratus]

Had poor JEFF FLAKE voted "NO" on Friday, the vote
on the Senate Floor never would have happened.
His week delay indeed gives the moderates in the GOP
an excuse to vote along with good ole Senator Mitch.

[phill4paul]

Had poor JEFF FLAKE voted "NO" on Friday, the vote
on the Senate Floor never would have happened.
His week delay indeed gives the moderates in the GOP
an excuse to vote along with good ole Senator Mitch.

But, it exposes the true moderates. Every Dem will vote no. Regardless of the investigation. Republicans, for the most part, are $#@!ing pussies. Why? Because most Americans, as portrayed by media and Hollywood, are pussies and they seek relevance. They still can't grock the concept of the silent majority. Even after all pools prove false.

[devil21]

After all of the Democrats trapped him in a side room and pressured him.

Flake's not running for re-election and his term is almost over. Not sure what pressuring him would accomplish. He's not fighting for his job. He volunteered this.

[Swordsmyth]

Flake's not running for re-election and his term is almost over. Not sure what pressuring him would accomplish. He's not fighting for his job. He volunteered this.

Because he is a flake and a NeverTrumper, he wants to please the media and the leftists for personal reasons and he wants to throw monkey-wrenches into the Trump administration.

[devil21]

Because he is a flake and a NeverTrumper, he wants to please the media and the leftists for personal reasons and he wants to throw monkey-wrenches into the Trump administration.

So Trump's response is to do exactly what Flake suggested? Did you forget the thread you were posting in or do you have to put out so many fires on Trump threads that the thread topic doesn't even matter anymore?

Someone else commented that Trump's wounds are almost entirely self-inflicted, even though he complains about them all. Add another one to the pile then.

[Swordsmyth]

So Trump's response is to do exactly what Flake suggested? Did you forget the thread you were posting in or do you have to put out so many fires on Trump threads that the thread topic doesn't even matter anymore?

Someone else commented that Trump's wounds are almost entirely self-inflicted, even though he complains about them all. Add another one to the pile then.

Trump wants to put him in a position where he is embarrassed if he doesn't vote for Kavanaugh since embarrassment is a key motivator with Flake, in order to do that you let him have his FBI investigation and then when nothing is found he has to vote yes, if Trump refused Flake would use it as an excuse to vote no and several other moderates would likely follow suit and Kavanaugh wouldn't pass, obviously the moderates and flakes made it clear they were willing to vote no and that is why Ford was given some of her demands and the hearing took place even though she blew the deadline to agree.

Your grasp of politics is truly pitiful.

[osan]

I am of two minds on this.

For one thing, even the FBI says such an investigation is not in their bailiwick. Therefore, the lefties as represented redundantly by the Democrats is unreasonable, idiotic, not in keeping with operational propriety, and thereby the granting of which sets a potentially VERY dangerous precedent.

On the other hand, given the corner into which Trump has been painted, it would seem a slick move in leaving the Democrats nowhere to go in the sense that he is clearly bending over backward to give them that for which they are pitching foot-stamping tantrums.

The bit that bothers me most is that Trump nominated Kavanaugh in the first place. I have little doubt he may be a decent human being, but his record on the 4A seems dismal enough that I do not want him on the bench. And here is yet another anecdotal point that leads me to wonder what Trump is REALLY about. Why was Kavanaugh his first choice when he could have nominated Amy Barrett, who appears to my limited vision to be a pretty strict constructionist?

That said, I am wondering whether the Democrats are nailing the lid shut on their own coffins, as out of nowhere not one, but three women come out of the vapors to accuse the man of being a rapist. For one thing, dragging out the "rape culture" card is IMO a huge mistake in terms of credibility. It's not been explicitly mentioned that I can tell, but the innuendo is thick to the point "rape culture" need not be stated in so many words.

Then there are the apparent connections to the hard "left" by this lying Ford "woman"... Soros, and so forth. Nothing to see there, right?

Now it appears to be coming out that she is not only a boozer, but was a bit of a tramp at the time in question. Act a certain way, get regarded a certain way. This is basic human reality at work. Lefties can howl about "slut shaming" all they want; it's not going to change the minds of those who would judge the woman's credibility, given the totality of the circumstance under which she chose to come publicly forward. I would also point out that in my day teen parties were pretty wild. Those of half a generation later were even wilder, so I can fully believe that Ford behaved in full-slut fashion, which is not to condemn her on that basis, whore that she apparently is ( ), but to point out that if you're going to play rough, you cannot claim babe-in-the-woods status after the fact and expect to be taken as credible.

I remember a situation like this from high school in Freehold NJ. Robin R, with whom I myself had had some "contact" - a nominally "nice" girl - got in over her head at another party we'd all attended, and then cried and hoomered about it later on. She wanted to play, but didn't want the consequences that might come after playing. The implication there was bordering on rape, and even at 17 I was smart enough to know it was bull$#@!, particularly in light of the knowledge of where my own hands had at times been in relation to certain bodily structures on that particular young girl. Few things are so despicable as one who bellies up to play, gets more than that for which they bargained, and then cries about it. Utterly revolting to behold.

Then there's the nonsense about Kavanaugh "exposing" himself. For one thing, what were the circumstances under which it was done, if we assume it ever was? One miss Hollis E. dared me to whip it out one evening in her kitchen in the dorms. $#@! happens and it is completely innocent where there is not force - especially on conditions of dares and the similar. Once again, playing the game, not liking the result and retreating into victimhood is every bit as despicable as child molesting. I have no respect for such people. Get in over your head, cowboy the hell up, be glad you didn't sustain lifelong injury, and be an adult about it. This sissy $#@! is for lesser humans. WAY lesser.

And isn't the hypocrisy of these people not to be believed? Consider how they go on and on with their support of all manner of behavior including that of gross sexual deviance and even criminality on the one hand, with what basically boils down to "anything goes" - but what can one expect from people who celebrate the murder of late-term fetuses? But when it is good and convenient, they attempt to wax all priggish and puritanical, simultaneously cheering on the woman who places herself in a position and condemning the man in the same circumstance, once again positing the innuendo that men are rapists no matter what and that women are victims regardless of the specifics.

This element of American political relations is deeply sick.