DPCC Co-Chair Cicilline: The American People Have a Right to Learn the Truth
Senate Should Pause Kavanaugh’s Nomination While Serious Allegations are Investigated
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) and Member of the Judiciary Committee, appeared on Fox News' Outnumbered where he called on the Senate to delay Judge Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court until a thorough FBI investigation of Dr. Ford's sexual assault allegations has taken place. Cicilline explained that an appointment to the Supreme Court is a decision that will have the impact on the lives of millions of Americans, so the Senate needs to make sure that the position is going to someone that ought to be there. Yesterday Cicilline joined a letter with 114 House Democrats which called for the Senate to delay their vote on Kavanaugh. Below are excerpts from the interview. Click here to watch the video.
"This is a very serious allegation. The standard operating procedure for this kind of allegation would be an FBI investigation. In fact, when Anita Hill made claims of a similar nature that was investigated by the FBI in a three day period…The FBI can investigate it. They do it in an impartial way, they report to a committee and then they can decide if they want to hear from additional witnesses. I hope they will.
"But I think that's not an unreasonable request. It's hard to understand why they are departing from normal protocol. What's the rush? Let's all just take a pause, let's ask the FBI to conduct a thorough investigation and find out what the facts are.
"This is an appointment to the highest court in the land for life that will make decisions for the lives of the American people and we have a right to be sure that the person who is going to that is someone that ought to be there. By the way, I have lots of reasons to not support this nominee…There's a lot of reasons I think he doesn't belong on the court but, at the very least, this is a serious allegation. Let's follow the standard procedure and ask the FBI to investigate. They can collect evidence better than any committee in Congress. That seems reasonable.
"If the Senate Committee decides not to direct an investigation by the FBI to find the facts and provide them back to the Committee, I think they will suffer the consequence of that. I think it's a terrible mistake and I think this woman has a right to be heard and have her claim investigated by the FBI as any other serious claim would be. [And if] Republican Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to do that they will be held accountable for that decision.
"This is important, this is a decision that will have the impact on the lives of millions and millions of Americans. These Senators should be required to follow standard operating procedure.
"If it's true, it is disqualifying event and he should not be on the highest court in the land…..if it's not true, I don't support his nomination for other reasons. We need Justices that will protect workers and the environment and women. But if anyone should want this investigation to proceed it should be Judge Kavanaugh. If he really did not commit this offense, he should demand the FBI investigate."