Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal and other Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are denouncing efforts to limit the investigation into allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The legislators have written a letter to the director of the FBI and the White House counsel, listing 23 individuals they believe investigators must interview.
Blumenthal says they acted after weekend reports that the scope of the investigation has been severely limited by the White House.
“The White House seems to be micromanaging and straitjacketing an investigation that must uncover the facts and evidence necessary to determine whether Brett Kavanaugh is qualified to sit on the highest court in the land,” he said.
Meanwhile President Donald Trump said at a press conference Monday that he believes the FBI should interview “anybody that they want, within reason.” But he stressed the bureau should act at the direction of Senate Republicans.
Reports in the Washington Post and the New York Times, citing unnamed sources, indicate that the White House has given the FBI permission to broaden the scope of its probe, but only slightly.
According to the reports, investigators will now be allowed to interview a third accuser, but they will not look into allegations related to Kavanaugh’s drinking habits while he was at Yale.
Classmates from the school have come forward to say that he lied before the Senate Judiciary Committee in describing his alcohol consumption.