During an interview with Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy on Tuesday, MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell fretted that the seventh FBI background check into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was too restricted. Her hyperventilating over the issue got to a point where she suggested that the Bureau should actually investigate Kavanaugh for being “rude” to Democrats.
Mitchell began the segment with hand-wringing over Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell criticizing Democrats for unleashing a “deluge of uncorroborated, unbelievable mud” against Kavanaugh. Rather than acknowledge the poor behavior of liberal lawmakers, Mitchell went after McConnell: “Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell today escalating his attacks against Democrats as he pushes ahead with a floor vote this week...”
After teeing up Leahy to bash McConnell, Mitchell decried the supposed limited scope of the FBI inquiry into sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh:
We were just talking to Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI officer, a top-ranking officer, and he says that his sources who are very good sources in the Bureau, tell him that they are still pretty much handcuffed. That, yes, more witnesses, follow-up witnesses can be interviewed, but the issues are only the initial allegations of Dr. Ford of the sexual attack, not lying, not drinking, not whether he was rude or showed belligerence to senators such as yourself. Is that the parameter of this follow-up investigation, and is that all that will be considered before you go to a vote?
Yes, that’s right, in Andrea Mitchell’s mind, it is now a crime to be “rude” to Democrats.
In a follow-up question, Mitchell assumed that Kavanaugh must have lied to the Senate Judiciary Committee, though never provided any evidence: “When we talk about him either misstating facts or claiming ignorance or lying to the committee, not to level of perjury, we’re not talking about a legal standard of proof here, we’re talking about character, about honesty, and about being an officer of the court at the very highest level.”
In attempt to prove that Kavanaugh was “rude” to Democrats on the committee, Mitchell played a clip of the Judge’s contentious exchange with Leahy during the hearing. What the footage actually showed was Leahy constantly interrupting and mocking Kavanaugh as the nominee attempted to answer questions about his behavior as a high school student.
Rather than question the Democratic politician about his own conduct, Mitchell instead quoted Arizona Senator Jeff Flake criticizing Kavanaugh for being too “sharp and partisan.” After reading the quote, Mitchell didn’t even bother to ask Leahy a question, she just let him pile on. Knowing his MSNBC audience, the Senator referenced a nasty Saturday Night Live skit ridiculing Kavanaugh:
You know, I watched – actually I watched it the next day, but the Saturday Night Live skit with Matt Damon. Unfortunately, that was too the accurate of what Judge Kavanaugh was like. I’ve never seen a judicial nominee like this, it does not reflect a judicial temperament.
Wrapping up the softball interview, Mitchell again feared that the FBI was “not going beyond these new allegations.” Leahy suggested that investigators try to find accusations against Kavanaugh during his time as a federal judge:
Well, I think they should, but they should also ask, have there been any complaints made about Judge Kavanaugh while he was a judge in the circuit court of appeals? At least ask that question. I don't know the answer, but I think that’s an easy question to ask.
Mitchell didn’t dare challenge such irresponsible speculation, she simply thanked Leahy “as always” for being on the show.
Not only is Kavanaugh automatically guilty in the eyes of the liberal media, they actually think he should be investigated simply for defending himself against Democratic Party smears.
Here is a transcript of Mitchell’s questions to Leahy in the October 2 interview:
12:18 PM ET
MITCH MCCONNELL: Democrats mishandling of Dr. Ford’s letter opened up the floodgates for this deluge of uncorroborated, unbelievable mud. And the mudslide was cheered on and capitalized on at every turn by the far left that has been so eager to stop this nomination. Just politics? I don’t think so.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell today escalating his attacks against Democrats as he pushes ahead with a floor vote this week, that means by Friday, on Brett Kavanaugh. Even as three key Republican senators who are considered swing votes remain on the fence, they say.
Joining me now is Democratic Senator Pat Leahy a former chairman of Judiciary, now a key member of the Judiciary Committee. Senator, it’s great to see you, thank you very much for joining us.
SEN. PAT LEAHY [D-VT]: Good to be with you.
MITCHELL: I wanted your reaction to Mitch McConnell. The FBI investigation is only in its second or the third or the fourth day at most, and they have yet to interview some key players, including Dr. Ford. So why is he now saying there’s going to be a vote this week, Friday, you know, no matter what else, they’re going ahead with the votes?
(...)
12:21 PM ET
MITCHELL: Well, I wanted to try to drill down on something. We were just talking to Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI officer, a top-ranking officer, and he says that his sources who are very good sources in the Bureau, tell him that they are still pretty much handcuffed. That, yes, more witnesses, follow-up witnesses can be interviewed, but the issues are only the initial allegations of Dr. Ford of the sexual attack, not lying, not drinking, not whether he was rude or showed belligerence to senators such as yourself. Is that the parameter of this follow-up investigation, and is that all that will be considered before you go to a vote?
(...)
12:22 PM ET
MITCHELL: Now, I’m trying to figure out what the appropriate threshold should be. When we talk about him either misstating facts or claiming ignorance or lying to the committee, not to level of perjury, we’re not talking about a legal standard of proof here, we’re talking about character, about honesty, and about being an officer of the court at the very highest level. I wanted to show you an exchange, as well as the demeanor, an exchange with you last Thursday.
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Senator, let me take a step back and explain, ah, high school. I was number one in the class freshman –
LEAHY: And I thought that only the Senate –
KAVANAUGH: No, no, no.
LEAHY: I thought only the Senate could filibuster.
KAVANAUGH: You’ve got this up, I’m going to talk about my high school –
LEAHY: I thought only the Senate could filibuster.
KAVANAUGH: I’m going to talk about my high school record if you’re going to sit here and mock me.
SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY [R-IA]: We were – I think that we were all very fair to Dr. Ford. Shouldn’t we be just as fair to Judge Kavanaugh?
KAVANAUGH: I busted my butt in academics. I always tried to do the best I could.
LEAHY: Does this reflect what you are? Does this yearbook reflect your focus of academics and your respect of women? That’s easy, yes or no, you don’t have to filibuster the answer. Does it reflect your focus?
KAVANAUGH: I’ve already said the yearbook, in my opening statement, the yearbook was obviously –
GRASSLEY: Wait a minute. He’s asked the question and I’ll give you time to answer it.
MITCHELL: And it went on and on like that. Now, Jeff Flake was just at an Atlantic conference and he said that “The interaction with the members was sharp and partisan and that concerns me. And I tell myself, you can give a little leeway because of what he’s been through, but on the other hand, we can’t have this on the court, we simply can’t.”
LEAHY: You know, I watched – actually I watched it the next day, but the Saturday Night Live skit with Matt Damon. Unfortunately, that was too the accurate of what Judge Kavanaugh was like. I’ve never seen a judicial nominee like this, it does not reflect a judicial temperament.
(...)
12:25 PM ET
MITCHELL: But Senator, just to nail this down, they are not going beyond these new allegations, they’re not going back to the [Manny] Miranda issue and some of the other issues that came up during the initial hearing.
LEAHY: Well, I think they should, but they should also ask, have there been any complaints made about Judge Kavanaugh while he was a judge in the circuit court of appeals? At least ask that question. I don't know the answer, but I think that’s an easy question to ask.
MITCHELL: Senator Leahy, thank you, as always. Thank you very much for being with us today.
