Brett Kavanaugh: Trump says it is 'not acceptable' if Supreme Court nominee lied in testimony as FBI completes initial investigation
Follow the latest updates on the investigation into the assault claims against the Supreme Court nominee and the political fallout in Washington
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Democrats are questioning the truthfulness of Brett Kavanaugh‘s sworn testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee as the FBI continues its investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Donald Trump's candidate for the Supreme Court.
The bureau has been given approval by the White House to speak to anyone it feels it needs to as part of its probe into the nominee’s past, following criticism its initial scope was too limited. The investigation, delaying Mr Kavanaugh’s confirmation, was instigated following Dr Christine Blasey Ford's Senate appearance to accuse the judge of sexually assaulting her at a college party in the 1980s.
Mr Kavanaugh has categorically denied any sexual misconduct ever occurred.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democrats’ leader from New York, has meanwhile said Mr Kavanaugh “misled senators about everything from the momentous to the mundane” to ensure his ascension to the high court.
Mr Trump, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, suggested that the Kavanaugh accusations show it is "a very scary time for young men in America," and claimed that men in America are now "guilty until proven innocent" — a standard he claimed was a dangerous precedent to set in the United States.
The president also praised his nominee's performance during his hearing on Thursday, when he defended himself against the accusations from Dr Ford. She had testified earlier on Thursday.
"I thought h did very well. He's fighting very hard for his reputation for his family," Mr Trump said on Tuesday. "I thought what happened was really tough. It was tough stuff".
Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been an outspoken supporter of Mr Kavanaugh's nomination, doubled down on his support as well, suggesting that the president should simply renominate Mr Kavanaugh if the Senate fails to confirm him.
"If his nomination were to fall short, I would encourage President Trump to re-nominate Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court," Mr Graham said in a statement released on Tuesday. "It would — in effect — be appealing the Senate's verdict directly to the American people".
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested that he plans on bringing Mr Kavanaugh's nomination up for a vote in the Senate some time this week.
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Here's more video of Senator Lindsey Graham speaking out about embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
A letter signed by nearly 400 law professors on Tuesday decried Brett Kavanaugh’s “lack of judicial temperament.”
“We regret that we feel compelled to write to you to provide our views that at the Senate hearings on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, the Honorable Brett Kavanaugh displayed a lack of judicial temperament that would be disqualifying for any court, and certainly for elevation to the highest court of this land,” the letter reads. “We have differing views about the other qualifications of Judge Kavanaugh. But we are united, as professors of law and scholars of judicial institutions, in believing that Judge Kavanaugh did not display the impartiality and judicial temperament requisite to sit on the highest court of our land.”
The letter remains open for additional signatures until Thursday afternoon.
That is it for our coverage of the latest news from the FBI probe into accusations against Mr Kavanaugh. Thanks for stopping by!
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