Kavanaugh. This discovery sheds light on the discrepancy between President Donald Trump’s public assurances and the actual conduct of the investigation.

In September 2018, as Brett M. Kavanaugh faced allegations of sexual misconduct, President Trump publicly promised that the FBI would have “free rein” to vet the claims. Trump asserted that the FBI was “talking to everybody” and had the discretion to interview whoever they deemed appropriate. However, the newly unveiled correspondence between the FBI and the White House paints a different picture, suggesting the FBI was instructed to conduct a limited inquiry within a week and requested additional guidance from the White House.

The report, disclosed to The Washington Post by Senator Whitehouse, indicates that the White House did not authorize the FBI to independently investigate the allegations. Despite Trump’s claim of an unfettered investigation, messages to the FBI tip line related to Kavanaugh were forwarded to the White House and never investigated. Furthermore, there were no written protocols for the supplemental background check ordered by the executive office.

According to the report, the FBI was directed to interview only 10 potential witnesses and was not allowed to pursue corroborating evidence. This lack of additional evidence was later cited by senators who narrowly voted to confirm Kavanaugh, solidifying a conservative majority in the Supreme Court that later led to the overturning of the constitutional right to abortion.

The report recalls the nationally televised testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of attempting to assault her during their high school years. Another accuser, Deborah Ramirez, alleged that Kavanaugh had acted inappropriately towards her during their time at Yale University in the early 1980s. Both accusers’ legal representatives voiced disappointment over the findings of the report, describing the investigation as a "sham effort" directed by the Trump administration to silence victims and other witnesses.

Kavanaugh has not responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt defended Kavanaugh, asserting that he was unjustly maligned. On the other hand, Sen. Chuck Grassley’s spokeswoman, Gillie Maddox, dismissed the report, questioning its validity and timing before the November elections.

The FBI’s role in this investigation has also come under scrutiny. The agency adhered to the White House's limitations and did not interview Kavanaugh or Blasey Ford. Despite receiving over 4,500 calls and electronic messages related to Kavanaugh through a pre-existing tip line, the FBI was directed to forward these tips to the White House without further action.

Senator Whitehouse’s review took six years due to resistance from both the Trump and Biden administrations in providing access to relevant correspondence and FBI officials. It was revealed that there were no established procedures for the supplemental background investigation; instead, FBI actions were solely dictated by the White House.

In summarizing the findings, Whitehouse indicated that the lack of an independent inquiry led to a situation where significant leads and witness accounts went uninvestigated. The report concludes that the entire collected information was sent to the White House without thorough examination, contradicting public assurances of a transparent and comprehensive investigation.