Bar Association urges Senate to wait

American Bar Association urges Senate to wait for FBI investigation of Kavanaugh allegations

By POLITICO STAFF

The American Bar Association late Thursday urged the Senate to delay a confirmation vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh until after the FBI has reviewed sexual assault claims against him.

In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), ABA President Robert Carlson said senators should not “rush to a vote” and that allegations by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford should be thoroughly investigated.

“We make this request because of the ABA’s respect for the rule of law and due process under law,” Carlson wrote. “Each appointment to our nation’s Highest Court (as with all others) is simply too important to rush to a vote.”

He added, “Respectfully, the Senate should recognize that a thorough FBI investigation will demonstrate its commitment to a Supreme Court that is above reproach.”

The letter came after both Ford and Kavanaugh testified at a politically and emotionally charged hearing on Thursday, in which Ford delivered riveting testimony accusing Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting here when they were in high school. Kavanaugh forcefully rejected the allegations, and accused Democrats of an ”orchestrated political hit.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee is due to meet later on Friday morning to discuss on how to proceed on Kavanaugh's nomination.