Bar Association asks to delay Brett Kavanaugh vote until FBI investigates

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The American Bar Association, which had previously given Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh a strong rating, on late Thursday urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay the vote to confirm him pending a full FBI investigation, according to multiple reports.

In a letter addressed to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein, the organization requested the committee hold off on voting until allegations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and others can be fully vetted by the FBI.

“We make this request because of the ABA’s respect for the rule of law and due process under law,” the letter read. “The basic principles that underscore the Senate’s constitutional duty of advice and consent on federal judicial nominees require nothing less than a careful examination of the accusations and facts by the FBI.”

Ford, a California professor, accused the federal judge of sexually assaulting her more than three decades ago.

Grassley said Friday that the ABA is an "outside organization" and noted the letter was only from the group's president. He said he would not let the ABA "dictate" committee business and stressed the letter doesn't represent all lawyers.

The ABA claims over 300,000 members. According to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks political contributions, the industry donated more than $120 million to federal political candidates and causes in the 2014 election cycle, 70 percent of which went to Democrats.

The association said the decision behind an appointment for the Supreme Court is “simply too important to rush to a vote,” while proceeding without an additional investigation would not only impact the Senate’s reputation, but “negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court.”

“It must remain an institution that will reliably follow the law and not politics,” the letter stated.

The Huffington Post posted a copy of the letter to Twitter. Fox News emailed and called the ABA and did not immediately receive comment.

In August, the association rated Kavanaugh as a well-qualified candidate for the nation’s highest court -- their highest rating. It issued the recommendation before the allegations were made public.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. cited the association’s comments during an intense moment during Thursday’s hearing that featured testimony from both Kavanaugh and Ford on the allegations.

“Here is my understanding, if you lived a good life people would recognize it – like the American Bar Association has the gold standard,” Graham said. “His integrity is absolutely unquestioned. He is the very circumspect in his personal conduct. Harbors no biases or prejudices. He is entirely ethical. Is a really decent person. He is warm, friendly, unassuming – he is the nicest person.”

Republicans have long been dubious of the association's objectivity. In a 2017 column, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., called the organization a liberal special  interest group.

"The American Bar Association is not neutral," Sasse wrote. "The ABA is a liberal organization that has publicly and consistently advocated for left-of-center positions for more than two decades now."

Both Kavanaugh and Ford testified in front of the committee on Thursday in what was an emotional day of testimony for both sides.

The drastically conflicting statements, delivered to the Senate Judiciary Committee in dramatic testimony that carried echoes of the 1991 Anita Hill hearings, left senators to make a judgment call on whose story is accurate.

It remains unclear whether the hearing will sway enough senators to secure confirmation.