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| Kavanaugh investigation: FBI 'hasn't spoken to Christine Blasey Ford' | Kavanaugh investigation: FBI 'hasn't spoken to Christine Blasey Ford' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The FBI team examining sexual misconduct claims against US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have not yet interviewed his main accuser, her lawyers have said. | The FBI team examining sexual misconduct claims against US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have not yet interviewed his main accuser, her lawyers have said. |
| Writing to the FBI, attorneys for Professor Christine Blasey Ford said it was "inconceivable" that the agency could conduct a thorough investigation without interviewing her. | Writing to the FBI, attorneys for Professor Christine Blasey Ford said it was "inconceivable" that the agency could conduct a thorough investigation without interviewing her. |
| Prof Ford has testified that Mr Kavanaugh assaulted her as a teenager. | Prof Ford has testified that Mr Kavanaugh assaulted her as a teenager. |
| The judge vehemently denies that. | The judge vehemently denies that. |
| In a letter written on Tuesday to FBI director Christopher Wray and FBI general counsel Dana Boente, Prof Ford's lawyers noted that it was five days since the fresh background check was launched. | In a letter written on Tuesday to FBI director Christopher Wray and FBI general counsel Dana Boente, Prof Ford's lawyers noted that it was five days since the fresh background check was launched. |
| They said the agency had not responded to the offer to interview Prof Ford, or "a series of emails and letters in which we identified witnesses and evidence that would likely assist the FBI". | They said the agency had not responded to the offer to interview Prof Ford, or "a series of emails and letters in which we identified witnesses and evidence that would likely assist the FBI". |
| The letter went on: "This afternoon, we learned of media reports that the FBI does not intend to interview either Dr Ford or Judge Kavanaugh. We hope that this reporting is inaccurate." | The letter went on: "This afternoon, we learned of media reports that the FBI does not intend to interview either Dr Ford or Judge Kavanaugh. We hope that this reporting is inaccurate." |
| FBI 'could finish investigation early' | FBI 'could finish investigation early' |
| The lawyers' concerns emerged amid reports that the FBI could wind up its investigation well before the deadline of this Friday. | The lawyers' concerns emerged amid reports that the FBI could wind up its investigation well before the deadline of this Friday. |
| Citing unnamed Republican aides, the Wall Street Journal reported that the bureau could finish "as soon as" Wednesday. | |
| The FBI is known to have interviewed Mark Judge, a boyhood friend of Judge Kavanaugh's, whom Prof Ford said was in the room when she was assaulted. Mr Judge told the Senate Judiciary Committee in a written statement that he did not recall any such incident - but he was not asked to testify in person. | The FBI is known to have interviewed Mark Judge, a boyhood friend of Judge Kavanaugh's, whom Prof Ford said was in the room when she was assaulted. Mr Judge told the Senate Judiciary Committee in a written statement that he did not recall any such incident - but he was not asked to testify in person. |
| The agency has also spoken to the judge's Yale classmate Deborah Ramirez, who alleges that he exposed his genitals in her face during a college drinking game. | The agency has also spoken to the judge's Yale classmate Deborah Ramirez, who alleges that he exposed his genitals in her face during a college drinking game. |
| President Trump reiterated his support for Mr Kavanaugh on Tuesday, saying he believed the Senate would approve the judge. | President Trump reiterated his support for Mr Kavanaugh on Tuesday, saying he believed the Senate would approve the judge. |
| Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Mr Trump said: "My whole life I've heard, 'you're innocent until proven guilty', but now you're guilty until proven innocent. That's a very, very difficult standard. | Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Mr Trump said: "My whole life I've heard, 'you're innocent until proven guilty', but now you're guilty until proven innocent. That's a very, very difficult standard. |
| "It's a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of." | "It's a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of." |
| At a rally later in Southaven, Mississippi, Mr Trump mocked last week's Senate testimony by Prof Christine Blasey Ford, without mentioning her by name. | At a rally later in Southaven, Mississippi, Mr Trump mocked last week's Senate testimony by Prof Christine Blasey Ford, without mentioning her by name. |
| The audience laughed as the president said: "Thirty-six years ago this happened: I had one beer! Well, you think it was…? Nope! It was one beer. | The audience laughed as the president said: "Thirty-six years ago this happened: I had one beer! Well, you think it was…? Nope! It was one beer. |
| "Oh, good. How'd you get home? I don't remember. How'd you get there? I don't remember. Where was the place? I don't remember. | "Oh, good. How'd you get home? I don't remember. How'd you get there? I don't remember. Where was the place? I don't remember. |
| "How many years ago was it? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know! I don't know! What neighbourhood was it in? I don't know. | "How many years ago was it? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know! I don't know! What neighbourhood was it in? I don't know. |
| "Where's the house? I don't know! Upstairs, downstairs, where was it? I don't know! But I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember. And a man's life is in tatters." | "Where's the house? I don't know! Upstairs, downstairs, where was it? I don't know! But I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember. And a man's life is in tatters." |
| What will happen to the FBI report? | What will happen to the FBI report? |
| The FBI will pass its findings to the White House, which will give them to the Senate. The contents are not expected to be made public. | The FBI will pass its findings to the White House, which will give them to the Senate. The contents are not expected to be made public. |
| Senators will then vote on whether to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. | Senators will then vote on whether to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. |
| Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of trying to derail the nomination on Monday, declaring: "The time for endless delay and obstruction has come to a close." | Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of trying to derail the nomination on Monday, declaring: "The time for endless delay and obstruction has come to a close." |
| Mr McConnell did not specify when exactly the vote would be held, but it is expected to be on Friday or Saturday. | Mr McConnell did not specify when exactly the vote would be held, but it is expected to be on Friday or Saturday. |
| Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has said Friday would be too soon. She argued that senators need more time to evaluate the FBI's findings. | Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has said Friday would be too soon. She argued that senators need more time to evaluate the FBI's findings. |