Baldwin Calls On FBI To Reopen Kavanaugh’s Background Check

Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is calling on the FBI to reopen United States Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s background check in light of new allegations of sexual misconduct.

Baldwin, a Democrat, says it was “apparent and obvious” the FBI should further investigate Kavanaugh after Christine Blasey Ford first accused him of misconduct. Baldwin said Monday that calls to reopen Kavanaugh’s background check “should be stronger than ever” after a second woman, Deborah Ramirez, accused him of sexual misconduct in a report published Sunday in The New Yorker.

Baldwin said she’s heard few details about the allegations against Kavanaugh and that’s why she believes the White House should reopen the background investigation.

“It’s a pretty routine thing for the White House to do when new information comes forward during the course of consideration of a confirmation,” Baldwin said after speaking at an event in Milwaukee to promote the start of early voting in Wisconsin. “And I’m not entirely clear why the White House wouldn’t take the opportunity to have the professionals in the FBI do that.”

Baldwin is running for re-election against Republican state Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield.

Vukmir said opponents to Kavanaugh are engaging in “last-minute character assassination” and that the accusations against him have been “irresponsibly published.”

On Monday, Vukmir called on Democrats to “stop the political posturing and hold a vote this week on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, offered Ford the opportunity to provide testimony about her allegations. Kavanaugh is also expected to give his account of the events. Ford is slated to testify Thursday.

Republicans have dismissed Democrats’ calls for another background check on Kavanaugh.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11:45 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 with comments from U.S. Senate candidate Leah Vukmir