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Did Senator Biden deny that FBI investigations can add anything to the SCOTUS confirmation process?
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On September 27, 2018 at the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, during his opening remarks, Senator Grassley claimed that FBI investigations can add nothing to Senate confirmation hearings and that this was asserted some time ago by Senator Joe Biden:
As you can see, the Judiciary Committee was able to conduct thorough investigations into allegation — thorough investigations into allegations.
Some of my colleagues, consistent with their stated desires to obstruct Kavanaugh’s nomination by any means precisely — by any means necessary, pushed for FBI investigations into the allegations. But I have no authority to force the executive branch agency to conduct an investigation into a matter it considers to be closed. Moreover, once the allegations become — became public, it was easy to identify all the alleged witnesses and conduct our own investigations.
Contrary to what the public has been led to believe, the FBI doesn’t perform any credibility assessments or verify the truth of any events in these background investigations.
I’ll quote then-Chairman Joe Biden during Justice Thomas’ confirmation hearing. This is what Senator Biden said, quote, “The next person who refers to an FBI report as being worth anything obviously doesn’t understand anything. The FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion, period. They say he — he said, she said, they said, period. So when people wave an FBI report before you, understand, they do not — they do not — they do not reach conclusions. They do not make recommendations,†end of Senator Biden’s quote.
The FBI provided us with the allegations. Now it’s up to the Senate to assess their credibility. Which brings us to this very time.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2018/09/27/kavanaugh-hearing-transcript/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0a7f36e037a0
Is this really a direct quote by Democratic Senator and former Vice President Joe Biden? When did he say this?
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On September 27, 2018 at the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, during his opening remarks, Senator Grassley claimed that FBI investigations can add nothing to Senate confirmation hearings and that this was asserted some time ago by Senator Joe Biden:
As you can see, the Judiciary Committee was able to conduct thorough investigations into allegation — thorough investigations into allegations.
Some of my colleagues, consistent with their stated desires to obstruct Kavanaugh’s nomination by any means precisely — by any means necessary, pushed for FBI investigations into the allegations. But I have no authority to force the executive branch agency to conduct an investigation into a matter it considers to be closed. Moreover, once the allegations become — became public, it was easy to identify all the alleged witnesses and conduct our own investigations.
Contrary to what the public has been led to believe, the FBI doesn’t perform any credibility assessments or verify the truth of any events in these background investigations.
I’ll quote then-Chairman Joe Biden during Justice Thomas’ confirmation hearing. This is what Senator Biden said, quote, “The next person who refers to an FBI report as being worth anything obviously doesn’t understand anything. The FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion, period. They say he — he said, she said, they said, period. So when people wave an FBI report before you, understand, they do not — they do not — they do not reach conclusions. They do not make recommendations,†end of Senator Biden’s quote.
The FBI provided us with the allegations. Now it’s up to the Senate to assess their credibility. Which brings us to this very time.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2018/09/27/kavanaugh-hearing-transcript/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0a7f36e037a0
Is this really a direct quote by Democratic Senator and former Vice President Joe Biden? When did he say this?
united-states quotes
edited 9 mins ago
Bobson
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asked 6 hours ago
elliot svensson
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4
Also notable is that Biden is saying we can't rely on FBI reports for their conclusions, which is very different than asking that the FBI do the background and interview people and report on what facts they can find and what people are willing to say with potential criminal sanctions for lying. But people do love misquoting Biden when it comes to SCOTUS confirmations.
– PoloHoleSet
5 hours ago
1
The problem with this Grassley quote is not whether Biden said that, but whether "the FBI provided us with the allegations". He's implying the request for an FBI investigation is a request for a credibility assessment or conclusion, and that they have already completed interviews re: the allegations. They haven't.
– De Novo
5 hours ago
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On September 27, 2018 at the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, during his opening remarks, Senator Grassley claimed that FBI investigations can add nothing to Senate confirmation hearings and that this was asserted some time ago by Senator Joe Biden:
As you can see, the Judiciary Committee was able to conduct thorough investigations into allegation — thorough investigations into allegations.
Some of my colleagues, consistent with their stated desires to obstruct Kavanaugh’s nomination by any means precisely — by any means necessary, pushed for FBI investigations into the allegations. But I have no authority to force the executive branch agency to conduct an investigation into a matter it considers to be closed. Moreover, once the allegations become — became public, it was easy to identify all the alleged witnesses and conduct our own investigations.
Contrary to what the public has been led to believe, the FBI doesn’t perform any credibility assessments or verify the truth of any events in these background investigations.
I’ll quote then-Chairman Joe Biden during Justice Thomas’ confirmation hearing. This is what Senator Biden said, quote, “The next person who refers to an FBI report as being worth anything obviously doesn’t understand anything. The FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion, period. They say he — he said, she said, they said, period. So when people wave an FBI report before you, understand, they do not — they do not — they do not reach conclusions. They do not make recommendations,†end of Senator Biden’s quote.
The FBI provided us with the allegations. Now it’s up to the Senate to assess their credibility. Which brings us to this very time.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2018/09/27/kavanaugh-hearing-transcript/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0a7f36e037a0
Is this really a direct quote by Democratic Senator and former Vice President Joe Biden? When did he say this?
united-states quotes
edited 9 mins ago
Bobson
2,6891925
asked 6 hours ago
elliot svensson
480116
On September 27, 2018 at the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, during his opening remarks, Senator Grassley claimed that FBI investigations can add nothing to Senate confirmation hearings and that this was asserted some time ago by Senator Joe Biden:
As you can see, the Judiciary Committee was able to conduct thorough investigations into allegation — thorough investigations into allegations.
Some of my colleagues, consistent with their stated desires to obstruct Kavanaugh’s nomination by any means precisely — by any means necessary, pushed for FBI investigations into the allegations. But I have no authority to force the executive branch agency to conduct an investigation into a matter it considers to be closed. Moreover, once the allegations become — became public, it was easy to identify all the alleged witnesses and conduct our own investigations.
Contrary to what the public has been led to believe, the FBI doesn’t perform any credibility assessments or verify the truth of any events in these background investigations.
I’ll quote then-Chairman Joe Biden during Justice Thomas’ confirmation hearing. This is what Senator Biden said, quote, “The next person who refers to an FBI report as being worth anything obviously doesn’t understand anything. The FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion, period. They say he — he said, she said, they said, period. So when people wave an FBI report before you, understand, they do not — they do not — they do not reach conclusions. They do not make recommendations,†end of Senator Biden’s quote.
The FBI provided us with the allegations. Now it’s up to the Senate to assess their credibility. Which brings us to this very time.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2018/09/27/kavanaugh-hearing-transcript/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0a7f36e037a0
Is this really a direct quote by Democratic Senator and former Vice President Joe Biden? When did he say this?
united-states quotes
united-states quotes
edited 9 mins ago
Bobson
2,6891925
asked 6 hours ago
elliot svensson
480116
edited 9 mins ago
Bobson
2,6891925
asked 6 hours ago
elliot svensson
480116
edited 9 mins ago
Bobson
2,6891925
edited 9 mins ago
Bobson
2,6891925
edited 9 mins ago
Bobson
2,6891925
2,6891925
asked 6 hours ago
elliot svensson
480116
asked 6 hours ago
elliot svensson
480116
asked 6 hours ago
elliot svensson
480116
480116
4
Also notable is that Biden is saying we can't rely on FBI reports for their conclusions, which is very different than asking that the FBI do the background and interview people and report on what facts they can find and what people are willing to say with potential criminal sanctions for lying. But people do love misquoting Biden when it comes to SCOTUS confirmations.
– PoloHoleSet
5 hours ago
1
The problem with this Grassley quote is not whether Biden said that, but whether "the FBI provided us with the allegations". He's implying the request for an FBI investigation is a request for a credibility assessment or conclusion, and that they have already completed interviews re: the allegations. They haven't.
– De Novo
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
4
Also notable is that Biden is saying we can't rely on FBI reports for their conclusions, which is very different than asking that the FBI do the background and interview people and report on what facts they can find and what people are willing to say with potential criminal sanctions for lying. But people do love misquoting Biden when it comes to SCOTUS confirmations.
– PoloHoleSet
5 hours ago
1
The problem with this Grassley quote is not whether Biden said that, but whether "the FBI provided us with the allegations". He's implying the request for an FBI investigation is a request for a credibility assessment or conclusion, and that they have already completed interviews re: the allegations. They haven't.
– De Novo
5 hours ago
4
4
Also notable is that Biden is saying we can't rely on FBI reports for their conclusions, which is very different than asking that the FBI do the background and interview people and report on what facts they can find and what people are willing to say with potential criminal sanctions for lying. But people do love misquoting Biden when it comes to SCOTUS confirmations.
– PoloHoleSet
5 hours ago
Also notable is that Biden is saying we can't rely on FBI reports for their conclusions, which is very different than asking that the FBI do the background and interview people and report on what facts they can find and what people are willing to say with potential criminal sanctions for lying. But people do love misquoting Biden when it comes to SCOTUS confirmations.
– PoloHoleSet
5 hours ago
1
1
The problem with this Grassley quote is not whether Biden said that, but whether "the FBI provided us with the allegations". He's implying the request for an FBI investigation is a request for a credibility assessment or conclusion, and that they have already completed interviews re: the allegations. They haven't.
– De Novo
5 hours ago
The problem with this Grassley quote is not whether Biden said that, but whether "the FBI provided us with the allegations". He's implying the request for an FBI investigation is a request for a credibility assessment or conclusion, and that they have already completed interviews re: the allegations. They haven't.
– De Novo
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
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It is not a single direct quote. Some parts have been edited out.
According The Supreme Court of the United States: Hearings and Reports on Successful and Unsuccessful Nominations of Supreme Court Justices by the Senate Judiciary Committee (1995) the quote is:
And the last thing I will point out, the next person who refers to an FBI report as being worth anything, obviously doesn't understand anything. FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion, period, period. So, Judge, there is no reason why you should know this. The reason why we cannot rely on the FBI report, you would not like it if we did because it is inconclusive. They say "he said, she said, and they said", period. So when people wave an FBI report before you, understand they do not, they do not reach conclusions. They do not make, as my friend points out more accurately, they do not make recommendations.
Date was 12 October 1991.
Alternative sources:
Nomination of Judge Clarence Thomas to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1994)
The Complete Transcripts of the Clarence Thomas - Anita Hill Hearings (2005)
answered 5 hours ago
DavePhD
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He essentially did, but it doesn't mean what his critics think it means.
Immediately before Biden's remarks, Justice Thomas is citing that he's had five FBI background checks as proof that if he had done anything wrong, wouldn't they have caught it? Isn't that enough proof that he hasn't done anything wrong?
Biden is stating that the FBI is not a decision-making body. It is a tool, like a hammer. When told what to do, it can build a case, it can tear down barriers, it can knock aside impediments. But it only goes where it's told, and at the end of the day, it offers up evidence for a lawyer to prosecute, and a judge to decide on. Even in hearings like the Anita Hill hearing, they would only have done a background check where they were asked to do one, and report back the facts and evidence for the Judiciary Committee to make a ruling.
So bottom line, Biden seems to be stressing that Thomas is not exonerated because the FBI didn't find anything, because they hadn't been asked to look into this specific case, and because they do not make conclusions based on those facts. That is not to say that their evidence doesn't make others' job much easier, and sheds light where it needs to be shed.
answered 38 mins ago
Carduus
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Biden was sympathizing with Thomas, as Biden's next sentence says "...all of us are susceptible to this errant charge" . Thomas did say 4 or 5 pages earlier that he had five FBI background checks over the years, but Thomas never suggested that was proof of anything.
– DavePhD
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
It is not a single direct quote. Some parts have been edited out.
According The Supreme Court of the United States: Hearings and Reports on Successful and Unsuccessful Nominations of Supreme Court Justices by the Senate Judiciary Committee (1995) the quote is:
And the last thing I will point out, the next person who refers to an FBI report as being worth anything, obviously doesn't understand anything. FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion, period, period. So, Judge, there is no reason why you should know this. The reason why we cannot rely on the FBI report, you would not like it if we did because it is inconclusive. They say "he said, she said, and they said", period. So when people wave an FBI report before you, understand they do not, they do not reach conclusions. They do not make, as my friend points out more accurately, they do not make recommendations.
Date was 12 October 1991.
Alternative sources:
Nomination of Judge Clarence Thomas to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1994)
The Complete Transcripts of the Clarence Thomas - Anita Hill Hearings (2005)
answered 5 hours ago
DavePhD
71.6k18309335
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
It is not a single direct quote. Some parts have been edited out.
According The Supreme Court of the United States: Hearings and Reports on Successful and Unsuccessful Nominations of Supreme Court Justices by the Senate Judiciary Committee (1995) the quote is:
And the last thing I will point out, the next person who refers to an FBI report as being worth anything, obviously doesn't understand anything. FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion, period, period. So, Judge, there is no reason why you should know this. The reason why we cannot rely on the FBI report, you would not like it if we did because it is inconclusive. They say "he said, she said, and they said", period. So when people wave an FBI report before you, understand they do not, they do not reach conclusions. They do not make, as my friend points out more accurately, they do not make recommendations.
Date was 12 October 1991.
Alternative sources:
Nomination of Judge Clarence Thomas to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1994)
The Complete Transcripts of the Clarence Thomas - Anita Hill Hearings (2005)
answered 5 hours ago
DavePhD
71.6k18309335
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
It is not a single direct quote. Some parts have been edited out.
According The Supreme Court of the United States: Hearings and Reports on Successful and Unsuccessful Nominations of Supreme Court Justices by the Senate Judiciary Committee (1995) the quote is:
And the last thing I will point out, the next person who refers to an FBI report as being worth anything, obviously doesn't understand anything. FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion, period, period. So, Judge, there is no reason why you should know this. The reason why we cannot rely on the FBI report, you would not like it if we did because it is inconclusive. They say "he said, she said, and they said", period. So when people wave an FBI report before you, understand they do not, they do not reach conclusions. They do not make, as my friend points out more accurately, they do not make recommendations.
Date was 12 October 1991.
Alternative sources:
Nomination of Judge Clarence Thomas to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1994)
The Complete Transcripts of the Clarence Thomas - Anita Hill Hearings (2005)
answered 5 hours ago
DavePhD
71.6k18309335
It is not a single direct quote. Some parts have been edited out.
According The Supreme Court of the United States: Hearings and Reports on Successful and Unsuccessful Nominations of Supreme Court Justices by the Senate Judiciary Committee (1995) the quote is:
And the last thing I will point out, the next person who refers to an FBI report as being worth anything, obviously doesn't understand anything. FBI explicitly does not, in this or any other case, reach a conclusion, period, period. So, Judge, there is no reason why you should know this. The reason why we cannot rely on the FBI report, you would not like it if we did because it is inconclusive. They say "he said, she said, and they said", period. So when people wave an FBI report before you, understand they do not, they do not reach conclusions. They do not make, as my friend points out more accurately, they do not make recommendations.
Date was 12 October 1991.
Alternative sources:
Nomination of Judge Clarence Thomas to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1994)
The Complete Transcripts of the Clarence Thomas - Anita Hill Hearings (2005)
answered 5 hours ago
DavePhD
71.6k18309335
edited 5 hours ago
answered 5 hours ago
DavePhD
71.6k18309335
answered 5 hours ago
DavePhD
71.6k18309335
answered 5 hours ago
DavePhD
71.6k18309335
71.6k18309335
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
He essentially did, but it doesn't mean what his critics think it means.
Immediately before Biden's remarks, Justice Thomas is citing that he's had five FBI background checks as proof that if he had done anything wrong, wouldn't they have caught it? Isn't that enough proof that he hasn't done anything wrong?
Biden is stating that the FBI is not a decision-making body. It is a tool, like a hammer. When told what to do, it can build a case, it can tear down barriers, it can knock aside impediments. But it only goes where it's told, and at the end of the day, it offers up evidence for a lawyer to prosecute, and a judge to decide on. Even in hearings like the Anita Hill hearing, they would only have done a background check where they were asked to do one, and report back the facts and evidence for the Judiciary Committee to make a ruling.
So bottom line, Biden seems to be stressing that Thomas is not exonerated because the FBI didn't find anything, because they hadn't been asked to look into this specific case, and because they do not make conclusions based on those facts. That is not to say that their evidence doesn't make others' job much easier, and sheds light where it needs to be shed.
answered 38 mins ago
Carduus
38915
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Carduus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Biden was sympathizing with Thomas, as Biden's next sentence says "...all of us are susceptible to this errant charge" . Thomas did say 4 or 5 pages earlier that he had five FBI background checks over the years, but Thomas never suggested that was proof of anything.
– DavePhD
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
He essentially did, but it doesn't mean what his critics think it means.
Immediately before Biden's remarks, Justice Thomas is citing that he's had five FBI background checks as proof that if he had done anything wrong, wouldn't they have caught it? Isn't that enough proof that he hasn't done anything wrong?
Biden is stating that the FBI is not a decision-making body. It is a tool, like a hammer. When told what to do, it can build a case, it can tear down barriers, it can knock aside impediments. But it only goes where it's told, and at the end of the day, it offers up evidence for a lawyer to prosecute, and a judge to decide on. Even in hearings like the Anita Hill hearing, they would only have done a background check where they were asked to do one, and report back the facts and evidence for the Judiciary Committee to make a ruling.
So bottom line, Biden seems to be stressing that Thomas is not exonerated because the FBI didn't find anything, because they hadn't been asked to look into this specific case, and because they do not make conclusions based on those facts. That is not to say that their evidence doesn't make others' job much easier, and sheds light where it needs to be shed.
answered 38 mins ago
Carduus
38915
New contributor
Carduus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Biden was sympathizing with Thomas, as Biden's next sentence says "...all of us are susceptible to this errant charge" . Thomas did say 4 or 5 pages earlier that he had five FBI background checks over the years, but Thomas never suggested that was proof of anything.
– DavePhD
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
He essentially did, but it doesn't mean what his critics think it means.
Immediately before Biden's remarks, Justice Thomas is citing that he's had five FBI background checks as proof that if he had done anything wrong, wouldn't they have caught it? Isn't that enough proof that he hasn't done anything wrong?
Biden is stating that the FBI is not a decision-making body. It is a tool, like a hammer. When told what to do, it can build a case, it can tear down barriers, it can knock aside impediments. But it only goes where it's told, and at the end of the day, it offers up evidence for a lawyer to prosecute, and a judge to decide on. Even in hearings like the Anita Hill hearing, they would only have done a background check where they were asked to do one, and report back the facts and evidence for the Judiciary Committee to make a ruling.
So bottom line, Biden seems to be stressing that Thomas is not exonerated because the FBI didn't find anything, because they hadn't been asked to look into this specific case, and because they do not make conclusions based on those facts. That is not to say that their evidence doesn't make others' job much easier, and sheds light where it needs to be shed.
answered 38 mins ago
Carduus
38915
New contributor
Carduus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
He essentially did, but it doesn't mean what his critics think it means.
Immediately before Biden's remarks, Justice Thomas is citing that he's had five FBI background checks as proof that if he had done anything wrong, wouldn't they have caught it? Isn't that enough proof that he hasn't done anything wrong?
Biden is stating that the FBI is not a decision-making body. It is a tool, like a hammer. When told what to do, it can build a case, it can tear down barriers, it can knock aside impediments. But it only goes where it's told, and at the end of the day, it offers up evidence for a lawyer to prosecute, and a judge to decide on. Even in hearings like the Anita Hill hearing, they would only have done a background check where they were asked to do one, and report back the facts and evidence for the Judiciary Committee to make a ruling.
So bottom line, Biden seems to be stressing that Thomas is not exonerated because the FBI didn't find anything, because they hadn't been asked to look into this specific case, and because they do not make conclusions based on those facts. That is not to say that their evidence doesn't make others' job much easier, and sheds light where it needs to be shed.
answered 38 mins ago
Carduus
38915
New contributor
Carduus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 38 mins ago
Carduus
38915
New contributor
Carduus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 38 mins ago
Carduus
38915
answered 38 mins ago
Carduus
38915
38915
New contributor
Carduus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Carduus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Carduus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Biden was sympathizing with Thomas, as Biden's next sentence says "...all of us are susceptible to this errant charge" . Thomas did say 4 or 5 pages earlier that he had five FBI background checks over the years, but Thomas never suggested that was proof of anything.
– DavePhD
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
Biden was sympathizing with Thomas, as Biden's next sentence says "...all of us are susceptible to this errant charge" . Thomas did say 4 or 5 pages earlier that he had five FBI background checks over the years, but Thomas never suggested that was proof of anything.
– DavePhD
1 min ago
Biden was sympathizing with Thomas, as Biden's next sentence says "...all of us are susceptible to this errant charge" . Thomas did say 4 or 5 pages earlier that he had five FBI background checks over the years, but Thomas never suggested that was proof of anything.
– DavePhD
1 min ago
Biden was sympathizing with Thomas, as Biden's next sentence says "...all of us are susceptible to this errant charge" . Thomas did say 4 or 5 pages earlier that he had five FBI background checks over the years, but Thomas never suggested that was proof of anything.
– DavePhD
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
4
Also notable is that Biden is saying we can't rely on FBI reports for their conclusions, which is very different than asking that the FBI do the background and interview people and report on what facts they can find and what people are willing to say with potential criminal sanctions for lying. But people do love misquoting Biden when it comes to SCOTUS confirmations.
– PoloHoleSet
5 hours ago
1
The problem with this Grassley quote is not whether Biden said that, but whether "the FBI provided us with the allegations". He's implying the request for an FBI investigation is a request for a credibility assessment or conclusion, and that they have already completed interviews re: the allegations. They haven't.
– De Novo
5 hours ago