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Showing Original Post only (View all)Sen. Sanders Demands FBI Investigate Whether Kavanaugh Lied to Congress [View all]
Michael Sexton @jmsexton_14m14 minutes ago'Lying to Congress Is a Federal Crime': Sanders Demands FBI Investigate Whether Kavanaugh Committed Perjury
In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Saturday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) demanded that the newly reopened FBI investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh examine both the serious accusations of sexual assault against him and whether he lied to Congress in his testimony.
"In order for this FBI investigation regarding Judge Brett Kavanaughs nomination to be complete," Sanders wrote, "it is imperative the bureau must not only look into the accusations made by Dr. Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and Julie Swetnick, it should also examine the veracity of his testimony before the Judiciary Committee."
The Vermont senator went on to call on the Senate to not "constrain" the FBI probe to one week, arguing that a truly thorough probe could take longer.
"If you are concerned with a delay in this confirmation process, remember that Senate Republicans refused to allow the Senate to consider Merrick Garlands nomination to the Supreme Court for nearly a year," Sanders wrote. "In addition to investigating the accusations made by multiple women, a thorough investigation should include a review of Judge Kavanaughs numerous untruthful statements in his previous testimony before Congress."
read more: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/09/29/lying-congress-federal-crime-sanders-demands-fbi-investigate-whether-kavanaugh?cd-origin=rss
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Link to tweet
Sen. Sanders' letter to Judiciary committee:
Dear Chairman Grassley,
In order for this FBI investigation regarding Judge Brett Kavanaughs nomination to be complete, it is imperative the bureau must not only look into the accusations made by Dr. Ford, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, it should also examine the veracity of his testimony before the Judiciary Committee.
The Senate should not constrain the FBI to one week and must allow time for a full investigation. I would request that you inform the FBI that you will not consider their work complete until they examine the truthfulness of Judge Kavanaughs statements under oath while testifying before the Senate throughout his career, given the very serious fact that lying to Congress is a federal crime.
If you are concerned with a delay in this confirmation process, remember that Senate Republicans refused to allow the Senate to consider Merrick Garlands nomination to the Supreme Court for nearly a year.
In addition to investigating the accusations made by multiple women, a thorough investigation should include a review of Judge Kavanaughs numerous untruthful statements in his previous testimony before Congress. Specifically:
In his previous testimony before Congress, Judge Kavanaugh was asked more than 100 times if he knew about files stolen by Republican staffers from Judiciary Committee Democrats. He said he knew nothing. Emails released as part of these hearings show that these files were regularly shared with Kavanaugh while he was on the White House staff. One of the emails had the subject line spying. Was Judge Kavanaugh being truthful with the committee?
In 2006 Judge Kavanaugh told Congress he did not know anything about the NSA warrantless wiretapping program prior to it being reported by the New York Times. This year an email revealed that while at the White House he might have been involved in some conversations about this program. Was Judge Kavanaugh being truthful with the committee?
In 2004 Judge Kavanaugh testified the nomination of William Pryor to the 11th Circuit was not one that I worked on personally. Documents now contradict that statement. Newly released documents also call into question whether Judge Kavanaugh was truthful that the nomination of Charles Pickering was not one of the judicial nominees that I was primarily handling. Was Judge Kavanaugh being truthful with the committee?
In 2006 Judge Kavanaugh testified, I was not involved and am not involved in the questions about the rules governing detention of combatants. New evidence released as part of these confirmation hearing contradicts that assertion. Was Judge Kavanaugh being truthful with the committee?
Kavanaugh testified before the committee that he did not believe polygraphs were reliable. In 2016 he wrote, As the Government notes, law enforcement agencies use polygraphs to test the credibility of witnesses and criminal defendants. Those agencies also use polygraphs to screen applicants for security clearances so that they may be deemed suitable for work in critical law enforcement, defense, and intelligence collection roles. . . . The Government has satisfactorily explained how polygraph examinations serve law enforcement purposes. (Sack v. United States Department of Defense, 823 F.3d 687 (2016)) What changed his opinion or was he misleading the committee as to his beliefs about the reliability of polygraph tests?
Additionally, several statements made by Judge Kavanaugh under oath regarding his treatment of women and his use of alcohol appear not to be true. The scope of the FBIs investigation must include investigating the following statements:
Judge Kavanaugh repeatedly told the committee he never drank to the point where he didnt remember something. He also denied ever becoming aggressive when he drinks. However there have been many reports from those Judge Kavanaugh attended high school, college and law school with that contradict this assertion. Was he being truthful with the committee?
Judge Kavanaugh testified he treated women as friends and equals and with dignity and respect. Numerous entries in his school yearbook would seem to contradict this. Was Judge Kavanaughs statement to the committee truthful?
Judge Kavanaugh claimed that he and Dr. Ford did not travel in the same social circles. Dr. Ford said she dated Chris Garrett, referenced as a friend in his yearbook. In fact she testified Garrett introduced her to Kavanaugh. Was Judge Kavanaughs statement to the committee truthful?
Kavanaugh claimed he did not drink on weeknights but an entry on his calendar for Thursday July 1 states, Go to Timmys for Skis w/ Judge, Tom, Pj, Bernie, Squi. Kavanaugh clarified to Sen. Booker that Skis referred to beer. Was his original statement to the committee truthful?
A fundamental question the FBI can help answer is whether Judge Kavanaugh has been truthful with the committee. This goes to the very heart of whether he should be confirmed to the court. If a thorough investigation takes longer than a week, so be it. First and foremost, we need the truth.
Sincerely,
Bernard Sanders
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Sen. Sanders Demands FBI Investigate Whether Kavanaugh Lied to Congress [View all]
bigtree
Sep 2018
OP
Guess you weren't listening right after Kavanaugh's selection was announced or any of the
KPN
Sep 2018
#12
To be honest, I was born in Brooklyn not far from where he was born, about 6 years after he was....
George II
Sep 2018
#172
How did he get in this discussion? I would say sigh but what is the point.
Eliot Rosewater
Sep 2018
#167
No cynicism, but Bernie Sanders isn't a player in the Kavanaugh confirmation
MineralMan
Sep 2018
#37
Did you read the Terms of See you agreed to? Here's the link, find at the bottom of every page
uppityperson
Sep 2018
#100
Have you checked out Jackpine Radicals? We're Democrats supporting Democrats here.
marble falls
Sep 2018
#102
I also have been following these issues for a very long time and I agree with your analysis
Gothmog
Sep 2018
#112
But if sanders has magical powers, why has he not got at least one major bill passed?
Gothmog
Sep 2018
#126
You claimed earlier that sanders has a magical power of "demand and declaration"
Gothmog
Sep 2018
#134
now you're projecting. Arguing with your own premise about a derogatory phrase I've never used
bigtree
Sep 2018
#135
you have a baiting style and seem intent on projecting your own derogatory language about Sanders
bigtree
Sep 2018
#160
No I don't follow you. I typically don't follow anyone but journalists or politicians. But
Nanjeanne
Sep 2018
#65
Then I guess it makes sense 5at I haven't much of a clue about what you are up to.
Nanjeanne
Sep 2018
#85
We are lucky to get the agreement we got, and it would not have happened without Flake
still_one
Sep 2018
#83
This Thursday he is basing his request on was the Friday before the Independence Day long
Fred Sanders
Sep 2018
#41
be interesting if this goes forward...BUT when democrats take over in January in the House they can
beachbum bob
Sep 2018
#7
Hmmm, his letter was sent out today, a day AFTER they already decided to conduct...
George II
Sep 2018
#18
Bernie is calling for more of an investigation into his previous lies to Congress.
Autumn
Sep 2018
#30
Senators Durbin and Leahy began calling for such an investigation back in July. N/T
lapucelle
Sep 2018
#115
Really? I haven't seen much of that, even right after the hearing when his lies were fresh.
Autumn
Sep 2018
#146
A politician hawking (unrelated) merch the day before an historic hearing is a new one for me. N/T
lapucelle
Sep 2018
#155
Well we are in uncharted territory so whatever works. Nothing wrong with Dems and their allies
Autumn
Sep 2018
#159
I'm sure there are many politicians whose key interest is building up personal campaign coffers,
lapucelle
Sep 2018
#162
Yes there are, I can't think of an elected Dem winner or loser, who doesn't build up their
Autumn
Sep 2018
#164
Yes I do know how it works, I have donated to it. I also bought from Hillary's campaign swag
Autumn
Sep 2018
#171
On Friday they collected over 10 million dollars. So I used the word raise, I used the wrong word
Autumn
Sep 2018
#186
Make it three things I got wrong, responding to you was one. Have a wonderful day.
Autumn
Oct 2018
#190
Have you considered getting out into the real world and working on a campaign?
Gothmog
Oct 2018
#191
Guess what? At 1:15 I got ANOTHER email asking for a contribution to reach "a few modest goals.....
George II
Sep 2018
#180
OK, but so what-- that's the least he should do. My Senator Gillibrand has been calling for...
TreasonousBastard
Sep 2018
#23
I just read someone's comments calling this "grandstanding" or "theater"...
NurseJackie
Sep 2018
#55
Who are the politicians calling for an investigation into his previous lies to Congress?
Autumn
Sep 2018
#33
So are there others calling for a current FBI investigation into his previous lies to Congress?
Autumn
Sep 2018
#93
I think Bernie was the 1st to lead the charge on this. Certainly no reason to criticize him for it.
InAbLuEsTaTe
Sep 2018
#119
The point is, those lies are public, on TV. They don't need permission to use those.
Autumn
Sep 2018
#150
They should use the Republican trick and shout those lies from the rooftops. nt
Autumn
Sep 2018
#157
Democratic Senators need to be screaming this. If table were turned you can damn well be assured
triron
Sep 2018
#43
My two Senator are actually on that committee & they don't need to "scream." Somehow...
Hekate
Sep 2018
#57
That was also the get-together that might have been the night of the assault.
dawg day
Sep 2018
#101
I would love to see all our Dems out there pointing out every lie he told while
Autumn
Sep 2018
#122
What? Which Democratic Senators are "hiding from the media" waiting to see how other people vote?
George II
Sep 2018
#151
I was referring to HER, not standing up for what is supposedly HER party
RhodeIslandOne
Sep 2018
#185
not having a place on the Judiciary Cmte., I'd expect Sen Sanders to do the opposite expected of him
bigtree
Sep 2018
#123
Gilibrand isn't on the Judiciary Committee either, she's been very vocal and visible all week....
George II
Sep 2018
#133
Funny how "Bernie alone can fix it" turns into "But but but Bernie CAN'T do that! He's only
EffieBlack
Sep 2018
#136
I knew there was something missing from DU this week but couldn't put my finger on it
Jersey Devil
Sep 2018
#140