The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) has joined the NWLC, UltraViolet, and [X] other organizations in signing a letter urging Congress to scrutinize the FBI’s investigation of the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The letter also requests that Congress mends the vetting process for judicial nominees.
In July of 2018, President Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Following his nomination, Kavanaugh faced sexual misconduct allegations from three women, including Christine Blasey Ford, a professor who testified against Kavanaugh in 2018. Special Senate Judiciary sessions were held to hear testimonies from Kavanaugh and Ford.
Following these sessions, the Senate Judiciary Committee ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental background investigation. The FBI stated they found no corroborating evidence to support the allegations. This conclusion may have been reached due to the FBI’s failure to gather evidence from vital sources and refusal to conduct interviews with Ford or Kavanaugh.
The Senate later approved Kavanaugh in a 50-48 vote to serve on the Supreme Court.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, released a report in October 2024 exposing significant flaws in the FBI’s investigation. This report, conducted over the past six years, “shows that the supplemental background investigation was a sham, controlled by the Trump White House, to give political cover to Senate Republicans and put Justice Kavanaugh back on the political track to confirmation.” The report describes the investigation as “flawed and incomplete,” as the FBI neglected to follow written protocols or keep records of how they handled the high-profile allegations.
This is why the SVPA is urging Congress to launch a comprehensive investigation into the handling of the sexual assault allegations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Congress has a duty to ensure that Supreme Court nominees have the qualifications and character needed to fulfill the significant and lifelong responsibilities of the role. The supplemental background check of Justice Kavanaugh failed to provide accurate information necessary for making such a decision.
We need a thorough and transparent vetting process for judicial nominees to ensure public trust and integrity in the Supreme Court. Congress must investigate the serious allegations against Justice Kavanaugh and ensure that the vetting process for judicial nominees is not tampered with in the future.
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About the SVPAThe Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) is a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing sexual violence systemically. Learn more about our organization on our website or in our impact report.
