Trump orders FBI probe into Kavanaugh, Senate vote delayed
Washington, Sep 29: US President Donald Trump has ordered an FBI investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against his US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, throwing his confirmation into doubt.
A Senate committee voted on Friday to approve Kavanaugh's nomination to the top US court. But a Republican member only backed the move on the understanding that such an inquiry would occur, the US media reported.
As a result, a full Senate vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation has been delayed for up to a week. He has been accused of sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford, a professor of psychology in California, in 1980s.
"I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file," Trump said in a statement. "As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week."
Trump's announcement followed a letter from the Senate judiciary panel seeking an expedited probe of the allegations pursuant to a bipartisan agreement to put off a vote on the nomination.
According to CNN, the developments mean that the full Senate will not vote early next week, as expected. Members voted on Friday night to formally open consideration of Kavanaugh's nomination, a procedural move allowing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to keep his options open.
The delay was the result of a last-minute change of heart by Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, whose move to force an investigation was quickly backed by several senators considered swing votes on Kavanaugh's confirmation.
Flake made the demand for the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe after a chaotic scene at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in which the panel advanced Kavanaugh by a 11-10 party line vote -- saying his vote was conditioned on a probe taking place, and that he would oppose Kavanaugh on the floor of the Senate unless his demand was met.
The judiciary committee officially requested the FBI investigation, saying it should probe current "credible allegations" against Kavanaugh. Republicans said it would be up to the FBI to decide what allegations were considered credible.
It was Flake, Alaska GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski and Maine GOP Senator Susan Collins who set the terms of the investigation, CNN said.
Kavanaugh, who denies all allegations against him, said that he would "continue to cooperate" with the FBI. He accused Democrats of politicising the process and harming his family and good name.
Three women, including Ford, have accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting them several decades ago.
Ford appeared at a judiciary committee hearing on Thursday to testify that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her in 1982 when both were teenagers.
Ford's lawyer Debra Katz welcomed the decision of calling for the probe but questioned the time limit of a week. "A thorough FBI investigation is critical to developing all the relevant facts... No artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation."
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B'desh: Lawyer killed in clash between security personnel, followers of Hindu leader
Dhaka, Nov 26: A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between the security personnel and followers of a Hindu community leader, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a Bangladesh court, according to local media reports.
The victim was identified as Saiful Islam, a 35-year-old assistant public prosecutor and a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
Citing Dr Nibedita Ghosh, a duty doctor at the emergency department of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, the paper said that six others were injured in the clashes that erupted after Chattogram’s Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate court denied bail to prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, arrested on sedition charges.
Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Lawyers' Association, said that protesters dragged a lawyer from beneath his chamber and hacked him to death.
As Das was being taken away in a police van, he addressed the crowd through a hand mike, urging them to remain calm.
Around 3 pm, the law enforcement agencies resorted to sound grenades, tear gas shells, and baton charges, dispersing the protesters.
Deputy Commissioner of City Police Liaquat Ali confirmed one death but said they were still investigating the cause.
The Daily Star newspaper reported that at least 10 people, including journalists, were injured during the clash.
