Senators are taking turns reviewing the FBI's report into Judge Brett Kavanaugh's background following widespread demands for additional investigations into allegations of sexual assault. The review comes one day before a deadline set by the Senate Judiciary Committee and President Trump.
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary says the FBI found "no hint of misconduct" in its background investigation of sexual misconduct claims against Kavanaugh.
Senator Chuck Grassley says he's received a briefing from staff on the confidential report. And the Iowa Republican says in a statement that "there's nothing in it that we didn't already know."
He says the FBI couldn't find any people who could "attest to any of the allegations" against Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh denies the allegations.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he disagrees with Grassley's statement that there was no hint of misconduct found in the FBI report.
But Schumer refused to take any questions from reporters to expound on that statement. Feinstein, too, refused to take any questions.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, taking to the Senate floor, blasted how Democrats have handled the process and claimed the allegations against the nominee "have not been corroborated."
This is America, McConnell said, lamenting how a nominee's reputation could be destroyed by mere allegations. McConnell called this a "shameful" spectacle that has been an "embarrassment" to the Senate.
"The facts do not support the allegations levied at Judge Kavanaugh's character," McConnell said.
The FBI report was given to the Senate overnight. Senators are reading it Thursday in a secure room in the Capitol complex, but aren't expected to discuss specific details of what they learn.
Grassley has said it's time to vote on Kavanaugh's nomination. The senator calls the federal judge one of "most qualified nominees to ever come before the Senate."
Republicans agreed to ask the FBI for an additional background check on Kavanaugh after his first accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, testified last week that he sexually assaulted her when they were in high school. Kavanaugh denies the accusation.
Ford's attorneys have said she was not contacted for an interview. But the FBI spoke to a second woman, Deborah Ramirez, who claims Kavanaugh exposed himself to her when they were in college. Kavanaugh says that accusation is false.
"The facts do not support the allegations levied at Judge Kavanaugh's character," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says. "Instead, many of them actually support Judge Kavanaugh's strong, unequivocal denial." https://t.co/b5KGSw98k7 pic.twitter.com/AP2xlEQ2ZH
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 4, 2018
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): "What I can say is that the most notable part of this report is what is not in it. As we noted by the White House, the FBI did not interview Brett Kavanaugh, nor did the FBI interview Dr. Blasey Ford." https://t.co/dTEGy2RHL8 pic.twitter.com/VgDeYKh0HA
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) October 4, 2018
The harsh and unfair treatment of Judge Brett Kavanaugh is having an incredible upward impact on voters. The PEOPLE get it far better than the politicians. Most importantly, this great life cannot be ruined by mean & despicable Democrats and totally uncorroborated allegations!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2018
Meanwhile, the full Senate is preparing to weigh in on Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court with an initial vote on Friday.
In setting the voting process in motion, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is likely to call for a final vote over the weekend.
Allegations of sexual misconduct when Kavanaugh was in high school and college have rocked President Donald Trump's effort to put the conservative appeals court judge on the high court.
Although Kavanaugh has denied the allegations of three women, they proved so controversial that Trump directed the FBI to re-open a background investigation.
(The Associated Press, CBS News contributed to this report.)
