House conservatives want ethics probe into Dems’ handling of Kavanaugh allegations

A group of House conservatives is pushing the House and Senate Ethics committees to launch investigations into Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) handling of Christine Blasey Ford’s letter detailing her sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

In letters sent to Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Christopher Coons (D-Del.) and Reps. Susan Brooks (R-Ind.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) — the chairs and ranking members of their respective panels — the lawmakers argued it’s pivotal they find out how Ford’s confidential letter was leaked and why it was hidden from the majority staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

{mosads}“Dr. Ford testified that she delivered a letter to Rep. Eshoo who forwarded it to Senator Feinstein on July 30, 2018 detailing allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh,” the letter reads. “In that letter, Dr. Ford asked that her identity remain confidential. The next day, Senator Feinstein confirmed that she would not share Dr. Ford’s letter without her explicit consent. On September 12, 2018, The Intercept reported on the existence of the letter – a fact that was known only to Dr. Ford, Representative Eshoo, and Senator Feinstein. On September 13, 2018, Senator Feinstein referred the letter to the FBI.”

The group, led by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), noted Feinstein said she didn’t disclose Ford’s letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) because Ford requested it remain private.

“Leaking Dr. Ford’s letter was a cynically political act that is damaging to the credibility of the United States Congress. Deliberately outing Dr. Ford without her consent may have a lasting impact on women’s willingness to report future assaults,” they continued.

“Democratic members of Congress and their staffs placed political expediency above the wishes of Dr. Ford. For these reasons, I am calling for an immediate ethics investigation to identify the individuals who are responsible for this breach and take appropriate action.”

In addition to Biggs, GOP Reps. Steve King (Iowa), Jeff Duncan (S.C.), Bob Gibbs (Ohio), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Rod Blum (Iowa) and Louie Gohmert (Texas) signed on to the letter.

Republicans in both chambers have been highly critical of Democrats handling of the allegations, arguing Democrats withheld the information until the eleventh hour.

A Senate vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation has been delayed by one week while the FBI investigates sexual misconduct allegations leveled against him by Ford and other women. 

He has denied all the accusations.