FBI Reaches Out To Deborah Ramirez In Background Probe Of Kavanaugh Allegations

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 24: Survivors of sexual assault and members of local rights groups rally near Senator Cory Gardner’s Denver office on September 24, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The rally was in support Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez, and asked Senator Gardner to call for Brett Kavanaugh to withdraw his nomination for the Supreme Court. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 24: Survivors of sexual assault and members of local rights groups rally near Senator Cory Gardners Denver office on September 24, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The rally was in support Dr. Christi... DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 24: Survivors of sexual assault and members of local rights groups rally near Senator Cory Gardners Denver office on September 24, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The rally was in support Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez, and asked Senator Gardner to call for Brett Kavanaugh to withdraw his nomination for the Supreme Court. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The FBI has contacted Deborah Ramirez in the course of its background investigation into allegations of sexual assault and other misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the Washington Post first reported Saturday.

Ramirez has accused Kavanaugh of shoving his genitals in her face at a party in college. Kavanaugh has denied that and other allegations of assault and misconduct against him.

“We can confirm the FBI has reached out to interview Ms. Ramirez and she has agreed to cooperate with their investigation,” Ramirez’s attorney, John Clune, told CNN and other outlets. “Out of respect for the integrity of the process, we will have no further comment at this time.”

Emails published recently by the New Yorker, which broke Ramirez’s story on Sunday, show that Republican staffers on the Senate Judiciary Committee attempted to stonewall Ramirez’s attempts to testify regarding her allegations.

Though Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) voted to approve Kavanaugh’s confirmation in a Judiciary Committee vote Friday, sending it to the full Senate, he also called for a delay in that full Senate vote to allow the FBI time to investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh.

The FBI probe “would be limited to current credible allegations,” Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee announced Friday, leaving open the question of whether Ramirez’s — and Julie Swetnick’s — allegations would be included.

Ramirez has consistently requested that the FBI look into her allegations.

Swetnick hasn’t been contacted by the FBI, her attorney Michael Avenatti told the Post. Avenatti noted: “I don’t know how this investigation could be called complete if they don’t contact her.”

This post has been updated.

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