Thread by @LuluLemew

I Used to Vet Judicial Nominees. Here’s Why Kavanaugh Needs the FBI.
－Mike Zubrensky is chief counsel at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

politi.co/2IdRPf7

"The nature of the allegation is extremely serious, and it would be beneficial for senators to have an impartial fact-finder take statements under oath in a non-adversarial setting from the accuser, the accused and individuals who may have witnessed or heard about the incident."

"Based on my experience initiating these investigations, Dr. Blasey Ford’s allegation alone is sufficient basis for the FBI to launch a supplemental investigation into Kavanaugh."

"The FBI conducted a routine investigation of Anita Hill’s allegations against Clarence Thomas in 1991, and this remains routine practice today."

In fact, 10 have been conducted over the past three months alone on other pending judicial nominees.

"The same goes for the second allegation, from Ms. Ramirez, and especially so because it suggests a pattern of misconduct. "

Kavanaugh was 18 when he allegedly, while laughing－ according to Ms Ramirez & several classmates－shoved his penis in her face.

This means when he testified “no” at his hearing in response to Senator Hirono’s question...he lied....AGAIN.

"The FBI employs nonpartisan, career professionals with the training and investigative experience necessary to ask the right questions and solicit relevant info on a neutral basis."

(And the fact that Kavanaugh, Trump, and GOP senators refuse to have this done SPEAKS VOLUMES)

"Special training is particularly important when interviewing sexual assault survivors and those who may have knowledge about these serious allegations."

Instead, they are using a PROSECUTOR from Maricopa Cty, AZ who worked under TRUMP'S PARDONED BUDDY JOE ARPAIO.

They couldn't even get that right.

Future generations are going to think they were all on crack ffs.

"A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, while necessary for senators to make credibility assessments, is no substitute for an FBI investigation."

"Why? Bc the FBI is nonpartisan and will go where the evidence takes it."

[It's quite obvious that this is what scares them]

"We already know that this will not be the case with the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that Chairman Chuck Grassley has scheduled for September 27."

"Although the FBI is headed by a Republican, Christopher Wray, the agency has the experience to conduct background investigations in a fair, impartial and nonpartisan manner."

Grassley argues that his staff is capable of conducting the investigation of #DrBlaseyFord’s allegations, but his own staff proved him wrong.

His chief nominations counsel, Michael Davis, oversaw a Republican staff investigation of the allegations last week and then sent out a tweet saying,

“Unfazed and determined. We will confirm Judge Kavanaugh.”

That is not the comment of a credible or impartial investigator.

"He has declared that he will allow only two witnesses for this hearing: Kavanaugh and Blasey Ford. No other witnesses will be allowed to testify. This is no way to figure out what really happened."

[#msRamirez testifying means more evidence, against 🐗 , on record]

"Nor can journalists do the work of the FBI....[They] have helped uncover and report on the allegations of sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh, but they lack the tools of law enforcement to identify, locate and interview witnesses under oath, and to obtain comprehensive information."

Without an FBI investigation into the sexual assault allegations that have been made against him, Kavanaugh risks serving as an illegitimate justice who shd be asked to recuse himself in cases involving violence against women, and his decisions would be fraught with controversy.

His presence could undermine the faith people have in the highest court in the land, which has the final say over disputes involving the meaning of our laws and Constitution.

"The Senate has the constitutional power of advice & consent, but my experience has shown that whenever there was a serious dispute about a judicial nominee’s bg, [it] first called upon the FBI to investigate so that senators have a nonpartisan foundation to guide their inquiry."