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Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
- The American Bar Association published a letter urging for the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay its vote on Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court.
- The ABA said the FBI should investigate the numerous sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh.
- During his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, Kavanaugh touted his "unanimous, well-qualified rating" from the ABA.
- "Each appointment to our nation's Highest Court (as with all others) is simply too important to rush to a vote," ABA president Robert Carlson said.
The American Bar Association published a letter urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay its vote on Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court until the FBI conducts an investigation into the numerous sexual misconduct allegations against him, according to a CNN report published Thursday.
"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," ABA president Robert Carlson said in a letter, CNN reported.
"Each appointment to our nation's Highest Court (as with all others) is simply too important to rush to a vote," Carlson added. "Deciding to proceed without conducting additional investigation would not only have a lasting impact on the Senate's reputation, but it will also negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court."
News of the ABA's letter, which was addressed to Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California - both of whom sit on the Judiciary Committee - comes hours after Kavanaugh testified on Capitol Hill before the committee Thursday. During his testimony, Kavanaugh touted his "unanimous, well-qualified rating" from the ABA.
The ABA defines its "well-qualified" rating for Supreme Court nominees to be "found to merit the Committee's strongest affirmative endorsement."
The organization added that allowing a "thorough FBI investigation" from the Senate, a potential development Democratic lawmakers have fervently called for, into the allegations would "demonstrate its commitment to a Supreme Court that is above reproach."
During his hearing, lawmakers asked Kavanaugh multiple times whether he believed an FBI investigation into the allegations would be prudent. Kavanaugh sidestepped the question and deferred the decision to the committee.
"I welcome whatever the committee wants to do because I'm telling the truth," Kavanaugh said.
The ABA's warning comes less than 12 hours before the Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on whether to recommend Kavanaugh nomination. Although there were believed to be a few key holdouts from Republican lawmakers, some of them, including Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, expressed they were ready to approve of Kavanaugh's nomination.