Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 14 September 2018
Senator gives federal investigators information on Kavanaugh

By LISA MASCARO New documents released
AP Congressional Corre- ahead of Thursday's meet-
spondent ing included Kavanaugh's
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. 263-page written response
Dianne Feinstein, the top to questions from senators,
Democrat on the Senate along with 28 files from the
Judiciary Committee, said judge's work in the Bush
Thursday she has notified White House that had been
federal investigators about available to senators only
information she received — on a "committee confiden-
and won't disclose publicly tial basis." Democratic Sen.
— concerning Supreme Cory Booker of New Jersey
Court nominee Brett Kava- made the Bush documents
naugh. public.
The California Democrat Among the details in the
said in a statement that she new written responses, Ka-
"received information from vanaugh says he would
an individual concern- have shaken the hand of
ing the nomination." She a school shooting victim's
said the person "strongly father during a break in last
requested confidentiality, week's Senate hearing had
declined to come forward Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, left, accompanied by Sen. Di- he recognized him before
anne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking member, right, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee
or press the matter further, markup meeting on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, in Washington. being whisked away by se-
and I have honored that Associated Press curity detail.
decision." The documents released
The FBI confirmed that it the court. ly" during his career in gov- fighting it and decrying the by Booker, meanwhile,
received the information Feinstein has held the letter ernment and the judiciary. process that Republicans show Kavanaugh's involve-
Wednesday evening and close. Democratic senators She said Kavanaugh has used to compile his govern- ment in Bush's nomination
included it in Kavanaugh's on the panel met privately had 65 meetings with sena- ment records for review. of Charles Pickering to
background file, which is Wednesday evening and tors — including with Fein- At the committee Thurs- an appellate court in the
maintained as part of his discussed the information, stein — sat through over day, Republicans brushed South as Pickering faced
nomination. The agency according to Senate aides 30 hours of testimony and aside a flurry of Demo- questions about his views
said that is its standard pro- who were not authorized to publicly addressed more cratic attempts to delay on race relations. Kavana-
cess. discuss the situation public- than 2,000 questions. "Not the consideration of Kava- ugh had indicated in 2006
A Senate Democratic aide ly and spoke on condition until the eve of his confir- naugh or subpoena more testimony that he was not
and another person famil- of anonymity. mation has Sen. Feinstein or documents, sticking with substantially involved in the
iar with the matter said it Some senators, including anyone raised the specter a schedule that could see nomination.
referred to an incident that the No. 2 Democrat, Dick of new 'information' about him confirmed by Oct. 1, In releasing a new batch
occurred while Kavanaugh Durbin of Illinois, learned him," she said. when the new court session of committee confidential
was high-school age. The about the information for Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, begins. documents about Kavana-
two spoke to The Associ- the first time at the meet- the second-ranking Repub- Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D- ugh, Booker was repeating
ated Press on condition of ing, according to one of lican and a member of the Conn., protested that the a tactic that could prompt
anonymity because they the aides. Durbin told the committee, was also skep- nomination will be "tainted" a review from the Senate
weren't authorized to dis- senators they needed to tical. and "stained" by the unusu- Ethics Committee.
cuss the matter. bring the matter to the FBI, "Let me get this straight: al process for vetting the Booker's GOP colleagues
The details of the alleged the aide said. this is (sic) statement about nominee. and outside groups are crit-
incident and the identity of Senate Minority Leader secret letter regarding a "We lack the time. We lack icizing him for releasing the
the person who provided Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., secret matter and an un- the documents." He called documents. Last week, he
the information were un- has not had access to the identified person. Right," he it a "badly broken process." released some documents
clear. letter but said he believes tweeted. Feinstein had sought a sub- that were later made pub-
The White House called the Judiciary Committee is Chairman Chuck Grass- poena for documents from lic by the committee, but
Feinstein's move an "11th handling it appropriately, ley, R-Iowa, was unaware Kavanaugh's time as Presi- also others that weren't.
hour attempt to delay his his office said. of the information until it dent George W. Bush's staff Wednesday's disclosure
confirmation." On Thursday, Feinstein de- was made public, accord- secretary. She said sena- brings the total to 75.
The Judiciary Committee, clined to answer questions ing to a GOP committee tors "should be able to see The conservative group
which has finished confir- outside the hearing room, aide. Kavanaugh has un- this record" and wondered, Judicial Watch delivered
mation hearings for Kava- and other senators' offices dergone six federal back- "What in Judge Kavana- a letter Wednesday to the
nagh, is scheduled to vote largely deferred to her. ground checks over time in ugh's records are Republi- Senate Ethics Committee
next Thursday on whether A spokeswoman for Rep. government, including one cans hiding?" seeking an investigation. It
to recommend that he be Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., de- most recently for the nomi- The Republicans have de- says Booker violated Sen-
confirmed by the full Sen- clined to confirm reports nation, the aide said. clined to pursue Kavana- ate rules against disclosing
ate. that the congresswoman The new information on ugh's staff secretary docu- confidential documents
Feinstein's statement that had forwarded a letter Kavanaugh was included ments, saying it would be and could face Senate ex-
she has "referred the mat- containing the allegations Thursday in his confiden- too cumbersome. They pulsion.
ter to federal investigative to Feinstein. She said her tial background file at the rejected Feinstein's motion Booker has welcomed the
authorities" jolted Capi- office has a confidentiality committee and is now and several others, includ- fight. He says the docu-
tol Hill and threatened to policy regarding casework available for senators to re- ing motions to subpoena ments about Kavanaugh's
disrupt what has been a for constituents. view, the aide said. documents and witnesses work "raise more serious
steady path toward confir- A White House spokeswom- Democrats don't have the and a motion to adjourn. and concerning questions"
mation for Kavanaugh by an, Kerri Kupec, said the votes to block Kavanaugh's Grassley set the panel's about his honesty during
Republicans eager to see FBI has vetted Kavanaugh nomination if Republicans vote on Kavanaugh for his testimony before the
the conservative judge on "thoroughly and repeated- are unified, but they are Sept. 20. committee.q