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What they're saying: Key Republicans happy with Kavanaugh FBI report

Collins and Murkowski
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.) Photo: Drew Angerer via Getty Images

Senators spent this morning reviewing the FBI supplemental background investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

The big picture: Senate Republicans claim the report does not corroborate sexual assault allegations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford — and key swing Republican senators like Jeff Flake and Susan Collins expressed satisfaction with the quality of the investigation. Senate Democrats have called the investigation incomplete and limited by the White House.

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What they're saying:

  • Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine): "It appears to be a very thorough investigation, but I am going back later today to personally read the interviews. That's really all I have to say right now.”
  • Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.): "We asked the FBI to investigate current credible allegations. That’s what they’ve done. ... I had planned to vote for him before, but I certainly wanted the FBI, the professionals, to look at it. And they have. I think they’ve been thorough."
  • Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa): "There’s nothing in it that we didn’t already know...This investigation found no hint of misconduct."
  • Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.): "The most notable part of this report is what's not in it...It looks to be the product of an incomplete investigation that was limited perhaps by the White House. I don't know."
  • Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), a key red-state Democrat, who announced her "no" vote on Kavanaugh: "I met with Judge Kavanaugh, closely watched his hearings, and reviewed his available record during the evaluation process — including the nonpartisan FBI investigation which I called for."
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