FBI’s Previous Probes Would Have Looked Into Kavanaugh’s Drinking

Previous FBI background checks should have determined whether Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had a substance abuse problem, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey told reporters Tuesday.

Senate Democrats initially called for an FBI investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh. After that update of six previous background investigations commenced, however, many of the same senators insisted it be expanded to look into Kavanaugh’s drinking habits.

“Background investigations generally determine the suitability of a nominee for public office and inquire into several subjects that includes questions about substance abuse and other relevant matters,” Mukasey said in a conference call with reporters.

The current probe is the seventh FBI background investigation on Kavanaugh since 1993, conducted for various federal jobs, including working for President George W. Bush’s White House and serving on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals since 2006.

More than likely, if Kavanaugh had a drinking problem, as some have charged in recent weeks, it would have emerged by now, Gregg Nunziata, former chief nominations counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, said.

“There have been half a dozen FBI investigations,” Nunziata said on the press call. “This is a standard question for every witness. Questions about alcohol and substance abuse would have been asked of hundreds of people who know the judge.”

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