The Clock Is Ticking

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SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 - WASHINGTON, DC: Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh testified in front of the Senate Judiciary committee regarding sexual assault allegations at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Thursday, September 27, 2018. (Photo by Gabriella Demczuk-Pool/Getty Images)

The FBI has been working this weekend.  Several agencies are reporting that the Bureau spoke to Deborah Ramirez today.

Ramirez reportedly gave agents the names of other witnesses.  And that’s what has Democrats concerned.  The investigation will no doubt turn up many potential leads, but how can it be completed in a week? And, just as important, why are there limits at all?  For example, The New York Times is reporting a classmate of Kavanaugh’s says the Supreme Court nominee blatantly mischaracterized his drinking in college.

“The classmate, Chad Ludington, who said he frequently socialized with Judge Kavanaugh as a student, said in a statement that the judge had been untruthful in testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee when he had denied any possibility that he had ever blacked out from drinking.

“Mr. Ludington said that Judge Kavanaugh had played down “the degree and frequency” of his drinking, and that the judge had often become “belligerent and aggressive” while intoxicated.”

Ludington told the Times he planned to take his information to the FBI.

Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) told ABC News that any limited investigation would be a “farce.”  Meanwhile from Politico:

“Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Sunday that she is “very concerned” the White House will limit the scope of the FBI investigation into allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, despite assurances from White House officials that the terms of the inquiry are being set by the Senate.”

It appears the GOP is all in on Kavanaugh.  Axios reports here is no ‘Plan B.”

“For the White House, it’s Brett Kavanaugh or bust. They have no Plan B and there’s not even discussion of one, according to five sources with direct knowledge of the sensitive internal White House talks.

“As of this weekend, sources close to Kavanaugh seemed optimistic the limited weeklong FBI investigation would give the three wavering Republican senators — Jeff Flake, Collins and Murkowski — the confidence they need to vote yes. But a week is an eternity in this political environment. And if Kavanaugh’s nomination collapses, there are no easy alternatives.”