President Donald Trump: No limits on FBI investigation of Brett Kavanaugh
President Donald Trump speaks Monday in the White House Rose Garden. Credit: Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla
President Donald Trump on Monday pushed back against claims the White House was limiting the scope of an FBI investigation into his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying the agency “should interview anybody they want within reason” including the judge himself.
“Let the Senate decide, whatever they want to do is OK with me,” Trump said in response to reporters’ questions about the administration’s involvement in the investigation.
"I think the FBI should do what they have to do to get to the answer ... whatever that means according to the senators and the Republicans and the Republican majority," Trump said. "I want them to do that. I want it to be comprehensive. I actually think it’s a good thing for Judge Kavanaugh.”
On Monday, The New York Times reported White House officials had confirmed a new directive issued within the last 24 hours to the FBI that expands the investigation into Kavanaugh amid criticism from Democrats over the weekend who said the probe was too limited.
Trump’s remarks came after an announcement in the Rose Garden of a new trade pact to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.
He said the FBI since Friday has been “working around the clock” to ensure the Kavanaugh probe is completed this week.
Trump said he was “fine” with the FBI interviewing Kavanaugh, but he also said “this is the seventh investigation of the guy.”
Kavanaugh, who in July became Trump’s second nominee to the high court, has been accused of sexual assault by three women.
One of them, California professor Christine Blasey Ford, alleges Kavanaugh attempted to rape her while the two were teenagers in high school. Ford testified publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Trump continued Monday to decry Kavanaugh’s confirmation process. He defended the time allotted for the investigation into the judge’s past behavior because of the “trauma” his family has endured since the allegations became public.
“What his wife is going through, what his beautiful children are going through, is not describable,” Trump said.
Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.
Person on fire outside Trump trial ... Teacher pay ... LI job growth leads nation ... Islanders surprise fans
Person on fire outside Trump trial ... Teacher pay ... LI job growth leads nation ... Islanders surprise fans
