WASHINGTON – In 2018, former President Donald Trump stated that the FBI would have “free rein” to investigate claims against his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. However, a report released on Tuesday by a Senate Democrat revealed that the investigation was “flawed and incomplete,” lacking follow-up on several leads.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., who serves on the Judiciary Committee, criticized the FBI for failing to thoroughly investigate the sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh made by two women, which Kavanaugh has denied.

The report indicated that the FBI did not pursue thousands of tips it received, instead forwarding them to the White House.

“The supplemental background investigation was deficient and incomplete, as the FBI neglected to follow up on many leads that could have provided corroborative or otherwise relevant information,” the report stated.

Although “President Trump publicly asserted that the FBI had ‘free rein’ to carry out any investigative actions it deemed necessary, the Trump White House maintained complete control over the investigation’s scope, blocking the FBI from interviewing significant witnesses and exploring tips,” the report concluded.

Whitehouse accused the Trump administration of “sabotaging” FBI investigators and “misleading the Senate.”

Kavanaugh did not provide a comment when approached.

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt described the report as a “ridiculous story” aimed at “undermining the Supreme Court and setting the stage for Kamala Harris to reshuffle the Court with Radical-Left Judges.”

“It’s well known that Brett Kavanaugh was maliciously slandered and attacked with fabrications in a Democrat-led scheme to thwart his appointment to the Court, which ultimately failed,” Leavitt stated.

The FBI clarified that it responds to requests from the White House counsel’s office when conducting background checks for candidates. Unlike in criminal investigations, the FBI does not have the authority to broaden the scope of its background investigations beyond the requests from the White House.

“In these investigations, the FBI adheres to a long-established process, limiting the investigation to the scope as requested,” the agency explained. “We have consistently operated under that protocol for many years and did the same during the Kavanaugh inquiry.”

The report reflects on one of the most divisive Supreme Court nominations in recent history that nearly derailed Kavanaugh’s appointment. Ultimately, Kavanaugh was confirmed with a close vote of 50-48, with Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia being the only Democrat to join Republican supporters. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, opted to vote present.

Trump nominated Kavanaugh, who had been on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals for 12 years, to the Supreme Court on July 9, 2018. Allegations of sexual misconduct began to emerge two months later, despite not being uncovered in the FBI’s background check.

At the time, Trump denied limiting the FBI investigation, asserting, “I want them to interview anyone they see fit, as they choose.”

Christine Blasey Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University, accused Kavanaugh in a letter to the Senate of “physically and sexually assaulting her” during high school by trapping her in a room and attempting to remove her clothing. She later provided testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Ford’s legal representatives, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, stated that the report validates their belief that the FBI investigation was a “farce” that allowed Republicans to confirm Kavanaugh.

“The report published today reaffirms our longstanding suspicions: the FBI’s supplementary investigation into Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination was, in fact, a sham effort orchestrated by the Trump White House to silence courageous victims and other witnesses who stepped forward and to obscure the truth,” the lawyers commented in a statement. “Consequently, individuals who reached out to the FBI with concerns were redirected, without any investigation, to the Trump The White House intentionally concealed the information.”

Deborah Ramirez, who attended Yale University with Kavanaugh, revealed to the New Yorker that Kavanaugh “exposed himself during a drunken party in the dorms.”

Kavanaugh has publicly rejected both accusations.

Whitehouse, a former U.S. attorney and state attorney general, stated that he continued to scrutinize the FBI’s actions due to significant uncertainties that arose during the confirmation process for Kavanaugh’s lifetime appointment to the court.

“The Trump White House obstructed a proper FBI investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh, withholding crucial information from Senators needed to fulfill our constitutional responsibilities,” Whitehouse expressed in a post on X. “Senators, along with the American public, deserve genuine answers—not fabricated distractions—when serious concerns about a lifetime nominee surface late in the confirmation process.”