THE FBI IN PEACE AND WAR – AT 11:50 P.M. ET:   So it is done.  There will in fact be an FBI probe into the allegations made by Professor Christine Ford against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.  The president has so ordered it, and says it will take less than a week.

And Mitch McConnell assures us that the new probe will barely interfere with the Senate's march toward confirmation of the judge.  All the Senate's work will be done except the final vote, which will wait, presumably until next weekend, for the FBI report.

I hope it goes that smoothly, and that the Bureau finds nothing to support Ford's vague allegations.  If that happens, no Republican could justify a "no" vote on the Senate floor, and even a few Democrats may act sanely and back the outstanding nominee.

But let's be a little cautious, maybe even a little paranoid.  Paranoia is good.  If conservatives aren't paranoid, they don't understand the left.

Much can go wrong.  Already the lawyers for Professor Ford are beatin' the drums for a longer investigation with no "artificial" limits.   Watch for the echoes from Senate Democrats.

Already the anonymous statements are being published, questioning whether the FBI can meet the deadline.   Consider this, From Fox:   "When asked if they could get the investigation done in a week, a senior FBI official told Fox News, 'That depends on the schedules of everyone we'd have to interview, including the accuser, accused and witnesses.'"  Really?  The president has given an order, but a few more leaked quotes like that, and we'll have trouble in River City.  What happens if the "accuser," Professor Ford, says she needs two weeks to prepare for her interview?  What's the president to say?  "I don't care."  Well, he might, and it would be good.

The FBI is part of the Justice Department.  It has incredible people, but we've seen that some of the top officials, in the last few years, have gone off the reservation and into politics.  If some elements of the Bureau, and in the DOJ, want to get back at President Trump for some grievance, slow-walking this probe would be an ideal way.  The press would love it, and rush again to demand "justice" for Dr. Ford.

And please note that a bad actor can turn up among witnesses, a potential hero in his own mind, who might drop some broad hints about Mr. Kavanaugh's behavior, things that would have to be tracked down.  The FBI knows how to handle false or suspicious charges or rumors, and I have to assume that the agents are on guard. 

It will be a week to remember, and soon to be a major or minor motion picture, or maybe a slideshow in Anderson Cooper's living room.

September 28, 2018