1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I’m writing to urge Congress to take all necessary steps to remedy serious faults in the vetting process for judicial nominees uncovered by a recent Senate report. The stunning report, issued last week by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse following a thorough, multiyear oversight investigation, reveals that the Trump White House sabotaged the supplemental investigation by the FBI into serious and credible allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against then-nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The intentionally deficient supplemental background investigation deprived senators of information needed to fulfill their constitutional duty of assessing Justice Kavanaugh’s suitability for the Supreme Court, and so it is incumbent on Congress to use their full oversight authorities to minimize the chances that such failures are repeated when future nominees are considered. Congress has a duty to ensure that lifetime nominees to the Supreme Court have the requisite qualifications, character, and temperament to fulfill the significant responsibilities incumbent on the holders of that office. Congress can fulfill that solemn obligation only with full information about the conduct of nominees. The supplemental background check of Justice Kavanaugh failed to provide that information, and Congress needs both to remedy that failure to investigate the serious allegations against Justice Kavanaugh and ensure that such failures do not recur. It owes that duty to Dr. Blasey Ford, Ms. Ramirez, and all Americans. Thanks.