Mark Judge, the missing witness in Thursday’s testimony regarding the allegations against Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, has indicated to reporters that he will cooperate with any FBI investigation, provided it is conducted confidentially.
According to the Associated Press, Judge has said that he would cooperate with “any law enforcement agency” conducting an investigation that adhered to a principle of confidentiality. Many have already been quick to rush to judgment as far as what this might mean for the vote to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, but the bottom line is that it will at the very least add a voice to the conversation that could be key to some missing details.
Judge had already issued a statement, signed only by his attorney, attesting to his inability to remember the events described by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who testified that he was present for the attack by Kavanaugh, but that he did not participate.
Kavanaugh himself, perhaps sensing that Senate Republicans would be able to provide him cover and that an FBI investigation would never take place, essentially threw Judge under the bus in his own testimony on Thursday, calling him someone who would not be credible in the first place as an alcoholic and drug addict.
Some speculate that this could cause Judge to “come clean” — if indeed there is a story other than what his prior statement indicated.
The FBI will likely investigate the matter during the next week, as Arizona Senator Jeff Flake struck a bargain with fellow Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance the nomination out of committee provided a floor vote is not held until such an investigation took place. Although Republican Senators on the Judiciary reminded those gathered that it would be up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as to whether a floor vote would be held, Flake did clarify that he would not be comfortable voting yes in the final vote to confirm without the investigation.
Two Republican women, Senators Collins of Maine and Murkowski of Alaska, almost immediately joined Flake in assent to an FBI investigation, indicating their agreement with that bargain.
Featured image via screen capture
