Committee Covets Feinstein’s Letter

Today California Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she had forwarded a letter to “federal investigative authorities” that involves U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and a California constituent.

A public statement was issued by the Senator yesterday after The Intercept released an article of a story pertaining to her letter. It states, “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.”

According to the Intercept, “The specific content of the document, which is a letter from a California constituent, is unclear, but Feinstein’s refusal to share the letter has created tension on the committee, particularly after Feinstein largely took a back seat to her more junior colleagues last week, as they took over Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings with protests around access to documents.”

While several sources are describing different versions of the stories, the theme of the letter involves Kavanaugh and a female he knew in high school. According to the New Yorker, the alleged incident took place at a party. Kavanaugh was attending Georgetown Preparatory School and the woman now making the allegation was then a student at a nearby high school.

The White House released a statement today that includes a quote from Kavanaugh: “I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time.” At the same time, 65 women who knew Brett Kavanaugh in high school responded with a letter of their own, which was released by Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The letter, signed mostly by women who attended all-girl high schools in the area reads, “We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983. … [he] always treated women with decency and respect. … For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect.”

The extent of the details don’t carry much further than that which is why the Democratic Judiciary Committee is scrambling to get ahold of this letter. So far, Feinstein has refused to let it go public.

Furthermore, Feinstein has failed to identify from whom or where she got the information. Reportedly it was handed to her through Congresswomen Anna Eshoo’s (D-Bay Area) office, although she has also failed to deliver any details nor respond to any public statements.

On Wednesday afternoon, the White House released a statement, through spokesperson Kerri Kupec and in that statement it was noted that “the FBI has thoroughly and repeatedly vetted Judge Kavanaugh.”