Trump authorizes the FBI to interview anyone it needs to in Kavanaugh probe


The FBI investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh just expanded in scope.
The White House has authorized the FBI to interview "anyone it deems necessary" in its probe of sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh, The New York Times reports. However, the investigation still must be finished by the end of the week.
This development comes after a weekend of criticism that the probe was too narrowly focused, with the Times previously reporting that the bureau had only been instructed to interview four people, none of whom were Kavanaugh's third accuser, Julie Swetnick, or even Kavanaugh himself. During a press conference Monday, President Trump said he wants the investigation to be "very comprehensive" and would be open to the FBI interviewing more people, per ABC News. Just before The New York Times' report, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who demanded the probe last week, reportedly said during an event that he was talking with the White House about ensuring the FBI can conduct a "real investigation."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The one-week timetable is something Trump is still apparently committed to, though, with the president saying in a press conference Monday that the probe should be quick. Speed, however, is unlikely to be an issue for the FBI, as the Times reports it has already interviewed all four of the people it was previously instructed to speak to. Read more at The New York Times.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
George Floyd: Did Black Lives Matter fail?
Feature The momentum for change fades as the Black Lives Matter Plaza is scrubbed clean
-
National debt: Why Congress no longer cares
Feature Rising interest rates, tariffs and Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill could sent the national debt soaring
-
Why are military experts so interested in Ukraine's drone attack?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The Zelenskyy government's massive surprise assault on Russian airfields was a decisive tactical victory — could it also be the start of a new era in autonomous warfare?
-
Depleted FEMA struggling as hurricane season begins
speed read FEMA has lost a third of its workforce amid DOGE cuts enforced by President Donald Trump
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs
-
Trump pauses all new foreign student visas
speed read The State Department has stopped scheduling interviews with those seeking student visas in preparation for scrutiny of applicants' social media