U.S.

Schumer Wants FBI To Brief Senators Before Kavanaugh Vote

Sen. Chuck Schumer also asked that the FBI's report on the investigation be released to the public.

Schumer Wants FBI To Brief Senators Before Kavanaugh Vote
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is requesting that the FBI brief senators on its investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. He says the briefing should happen 24 hours before Kavanaugh's confirmation vote.

Schumer wants the FBI to answer senators' questions regarding "which witness were interviewed," what investigative steps were taken and "what evidence was collected." He also wants the FBI's report on the probe released to the public — something Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says isn't going to happen

In a letter to McConnell released Tuesday, Schumer said the report's release and an FBI briefing were necessary "in light of the various conflicting statements by the President and other officials regarding the nature and scope of this investigation."

Senate Democrats are concerned about the investigation's fairness following reports that the FBI was directed by the White House to interview only two of the three women accusing Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.

The White House denies it's limiting the probe, and President Donald Trump said Monday the FBI should "interview anybody that they want, within reason." 

Democrats have named about two dozen people they'd like the FBI to speak to, but there may not be much time left to make that happen — a Senate vote on Kavanaugh's nomination is expected this week.

Lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford, Kavanaugh's first public accuser, said that as of Monday she had not been interviewed by the FBI.