Blasey Ford Doesn't Like One Aspect of New Inquiry

President Trump said he would go along with whatever Senate leaders wanted to do in regard to Brett Kavanaugh, and the president followed through Friday by ordering the FBI to launch a new investigation before a full Senate vote. "Just started, tonight, our 7th FBI investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh," Trump tweeted. "He will someday be recognized as a truly great Justice of The United States Supreme Court!" The move came after the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Kavanaugh's nomination, along with an unusual request from Republican Jeff Flake that the FBI conduct one more check in the wake of Thursday's dramatic hearing. While accuser Christine Blasey Ford applauded the development, she doesn't like one aspect of it—the stipulation that the investigation last no more than a week.

"No artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation," she said via a statement from attorney Debra Katz, per the Hill. The statement also singled out Sens. Flake, Lisa Murkowski, Joe Manchin, and Susan Collins for praise for backing the new investigation. The New York Times reports that the inquiry will be "relatively limited" because it's not a criminal investigation, meaning no subpoenas or search warrants will be involved. Witnesses can choose not to cooperate. However, one potentially crucial witness says he will play along: Mark Judge, the Kavanaugh classmate who Blasey Ford said was in the room when the alleged assault occurred. "He will answer any and all questions posed to him," said his attorney, per CNN. (More Christine Blasey Ford stories.)