WASHINGTON – White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that “we didn’t learn anything new” from the FBI report on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh delivered to the Senate Wednesday evening and that President Donald Trump remains confident that Kavanaugh will be confirmed despite sexual assault allegations.
Trump was traveling to Minnesota Thursday for a meting with supporters, a fundraising event and a rally at the Mayo Civic Center.
He tweeted at 10:23 p.m. Wednesday: “Wow, such enthusiasm and energy for Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Look at the Energy, look at the Polls. Something very big is happening. He is a fine man and great intellect. The country is with him all the way!”
Sanders held a short news conference outside the West Wing, saying Trump is “very confident in his selection and in his support of Judge Kavanaugh.” She said his message to senators who are wavering is simple: “Vote and confirm Judge Kavanaugh.”
Sanders dismissed a question about reportedly dozens of college acquaintances who asked to be interviewed by the FBI but were not contacted. “We haven’t micromanaged this process,” she said, “We allowed the FBI to make those decisions and interview who they needed to.” When asked if there were enough votes for confirmation, she said, “We hope so. As (Judiciary Committee) Chairman (Charles) Grassley said a few minutes ago, we didn’t learn anything new.”
More than 2,000 law professors sfrom 190 law schools posted a signed Google document Thursdayasking the Senate not to confirm Kavanaugh because he “displayed a lack of judicial temperament that would be disqualifying for any court, and certainly for elevation to the highest court of this land” at last Thursday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in which he denied allegations in the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford that he sexually assaulted her when both were in high school.
When asked why the FBI didn’t interview Ford or other women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, Sanders said, “We allowed the FBI to do exactly what they do best” and didn’t interfere in the investigation. She also said Ford’s extensive public questioning by a prosecutor hired by the Senate Judiciary Committee provided a full account.
Meanwhile, senators were reading the FBI report Thursday in a secure room.
At 4:07 a.m. Thursday, Grassley tweeted, “Supplemental FBI background file for Judge Kavanaugh has been received by @senjudiciary Ranking member Feinstein & I have agreed to alternating EQUAL access for senators to study content from additional background info gathered by non-partisan FBI agents 1/3”