Trump orders new Kavanaugh probe, confirmation vote delayed

President of the United States (US) Donald Trump has ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to conduct a new probe into sexual misconduct allegations against his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.

The announcement came after members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to approve Kavanaugh's nomination to the top US court.

However, a full vote by the Senate on Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation has been delayed because of the investigation ordered by Trump.

The President, in announcing the new probe yesterday, said he ordered the FBI to conduct a “supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file.”

However, he sought to make it clear that “this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week."

“The inquiry will involve the FBI reopening its previously completed background check on Judge Kavanaugh. This might mean going back to old witnesses or speaking to new ones,” he explained.

Kavanaugh, in his response to the announcement, said: "I've done everything they have requested and will continue to co-operate.”

Debra Katz, the attorney for Kavanaugh’s main accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, welcomed 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," Katz said.

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