Friday, September 14, 2018

Feinstein Refers Letter About Kavanaugh Sexual Misconduct to FBI

Trump and Kavanaugh: two sexual predators?
Sexual misconduct means nothing to Republicans - and evangelical Christians as well - as evidenced by their support for Donald Trump, a/k/a Der Trumpenführer, a self-confessed sexual predatory and serial adulterer.  For many women voters (other than evangelical women), sexual misconduct and a contempt for women is a huge issue and can drive women voters to Democrats.  Hence the GOP's continued gender gap problem at election time.  Now, on top of the other reasons for women to oppose Trump/Pence and the GOP is news that Trump Supreme Court nominee may have sexual misconduct in his past.  New York Magazine looks at a referral by Senator Diane Feinstein to the FBI for investigation.  While Republicans want a quick vote on Kavanaugh, the double edge sword is that, if they do so, they could push more women to vote Democrat in November.  Here are article excerpts:
Senator Dianne Feinstein of California says she has turned over to federal investigators a secret letter about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, which she had reportedly been withholding from other Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Officials close to the matter told the New York Times the letter details possible sexual misconduct between Kavanaugh and a woman . . .
Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a Thursday statement: “I have received information from an individual concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities.”
The information Feinstein refers to in her statement reportedly came from a letter sent to Democratic representative Anna Eshoo of California. Eshoo’s office passed the letter to Feinstein over the summer. The Times notes that the letter reportedly contains an allegation of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh.
The Times reports that several committee members urged her to take the matter to the FBI.
Eshoo’s office declined to comment on the letter to HuffPost, saying that it came from a constituent and is therefore considered casework and won’t be made public. But on Thursday, the White House decried news of the letter as an attempt to delay the confirmation . . . . “Senator Schumer promised to ‘oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination with everything I have,’ and it appears he is delivering with this 11th hour attempt to delay his confirmation.”
BuzzFeed News believes that it knows the identity of the woman who is the subject of the letter. The outlet said it reached out to her last week and that she declined to comment. However, BuzzFeed News also reports that a lawyer believed to be representing the woman — acclaimed #MeToo attorney Debra Katz — was spotted leaving Capitol Hill on Wednesday shortly after the Intercept broke news of the letter. Katz declined to comment or confirm whether she was representing the woman. “There’s nothing to say,” she told BuzzFeed News on Wednesday.
Frankly, if the allegations are true, Kavanaugh's nomination should be withdrawn and his continued presence on the DC Circuit should be evaluated depending on the nature of the allegations.  

1 comment:

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Heh. When I read about the 'information' she had, I couldn't help but think it was going to be something naughty Brett had done. Repugs don't care about anything. They just want that position in SCOTUS filled with someone who's going to fuck up this country even more. And someone who can pardon Cheeto.