Feinstein’s announcement about Brett Kavanaugh and the FBI smells, looks and feels like a political stunt- In his column, excerpts below, Becket Adams seems to call it right on the money.
To briefly recap what is known now:
– Feinstein was given a letter, third hand, from an anonymous writer who did not wish to be identified…nor the way I read it, didn’t even wish the incident the letter apparently described to be publicized??? It has been suggested that the letter contains some sort of allegation regarding Brett Kavanaugh.
– Ever the dependable, never the political politician, Senator Feinstein proclaimed that she would certainly respect the writer’s wishes. Then she turned the letter over to be “investigated”, presumably by the FBI.
– Although Feinstein had the letter in her possession for the past 7 weeks or so, she did not make any reference to it at any time throughout the Kavanaugh hearings before the Senate.
– The”incident” is reported to be something that happened when the letter writer and Kavanaugh were in HIGH SCHOOL??!!
– So…the courageous Dianne Feinstein should really have to answer some questions. Among them:
1- Feinstein: “I have received information from an individual concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court,” the statement said.
It added, “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.”
She “honored” the decision by announcing she had turned it over to “investigative authorities”??? Boy! I’d never ask the Feinstein to “honor” any request for me! And why did she, in honoring the letter writer’s decision, ‘turn it over to…authorities’? To do what? As Mark Stein noted, who were the “investigative” authorities? The Juvenile Court?
2- She sat on that (that’s an unpleasant visual right there) letter for SEVEN WEEKS? Throughout the hearings on Kavanaugh’s nomination, waiting until one week before the confirmation vote?! Wouldn’t a matter of such “urgency” called for its exposure immediately so that proper evaluation by the Judiciary committee could be conducted?
3- What is this “serious” 30 year or so old allegation regarding two kids in high school? (Did he dip her pigtails in the ink well? Sorry, Dianne, they quit having ‘inkwells’ the year after you left the schoolhouse). Surely he didn’t call her a ‘ho’ 3 decades or so before it was popularized in song and verse by former President Obama’s favorite rapper.
Oh well. That’s enough. There probably has been or most certainly will be much better accounts and analysis of this story written than we can do justice to. Just put us down as ‘memorializing’ this crude, clumsy, disgusting tactic by the 84 year old. DLH
Dianne Feinstein’s announcement about Brett Kavanaugh and the FBI smells like a political stunt
Either Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has the goods on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, or she has gone full Harry Reid.
My money is on the latter.
The ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee released a tortuously cryptic statement Thursday claiming her office has referred a Kavanaugh-related matter to federal law enforcement officials.
“I have received information from an individual concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court,” the statement said.
It added, “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.”
Feinstein reportedly learned of the Kavanaugh allegations from a letter sent to her by Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Calif. Feinstein also reportedly first learned of the allegations in July. If true, it means she has been sitting on this supposedly very serious matter for the better part of seven weeks.
Thursday’s statement comes just hours after the Intercept published a report, titled “ Dianne Feinstein Withholding Brett Kavanaugh Document From Fellow Judiciary Committee Democrats.” That story claimed the Feinstein letter may or may not describe “an incident involving Kavanaugh and a woman while they were in high school.”
The New York Times and the Washington Post reported Thursday that the letter alleges an episode of “sexual misconduct” between Kavanaugh and a woman when they were both in high school.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said separately in remarks to BuzzFeed News that, “This matter has been referred to the FBI for investigation.”
BuzzFeed News said it contacted “the woman believed to be the subject of the letter.” The anonymous woman declined to comment. BuzzFeed News also contacted noted #MeToo attorney Debra Katz, who is believed to be representing the woman believed to be the subject of the letter (isn’t this fun?). Katz declined to comment, saying, “There’s nothing to say.” . . .
Never mind what’s in the letter. Never mind that Feinstein’s statement is written in such a way as to suggest the absolute worst without saying anything. Never mind that this announcement was clearly calculated for maximum scandal (she can announce the federal referral, but nothing else? Come on).
Feinstein’s aim is to contribute to the cloud of innuendo that Democrats have tried to build up around Kavanaugh, hoping it will scare GOP moderates away from a “yea” vote.
Whether Feinstein’s letter is as serious as advertised is yet to be seen. Kavanaugh may have actually done something terrible when he was in high school!
Then again, the fact that the letter reportedly pertains to a thing the judge may or may not have done while in high school suggest very loudly that this entire episode is a desperate and damned disgraceful political stunt.
