Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.) on Saturday sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyGOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power The Hill's 12:30 Report: Ginsburg lies in repose Top GOP senators say Hunter Biden's work 'cast a shadow' over Obama Ukraine policy MORE (R-Iowa) demanding that the FBI, in addition to investigating sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, also examine the truthfulness of Kavanaugh's statements made under oath Thursday before the Senate panel.

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"In order for the FBI investigation regarding Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to be complete, it is imperative the bureau must not only look into the accusations made by Dr. [Christine Blasey] Ford, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, it should also examine the veracity of his testimony before the Judiciary Committee," Sanders wrote in the letter.

Sanders, who tweeted the letter Saturday morning, wrote on Twitter, "Lying to Congress is a federal crime. … Kavanaugh's truthfulness with the Senate goes to the very heart of whether he should be confirmed to the court."

Lying to Congress is a federal crime.



The FBI must examine the veracity of Kavanaugh’s statements under oath in addition to the sexual assault allegations against him. Kavanaugh's truthfulness with the Senate goes to the very heart of whether he should be confirmed to the court. pic.twitter.com/TsNOTm4fxK — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) September 29, 2018

“A fundamental question the FBI can help answer is whether Judge Kavanaugh has been truthful with the committee. This goes to the very heart of whether he should be confirmed to the court,” Sanders continued.

Sanders also said the FBI investigation should not be constrained to one week, as has been agreed to by multiple Republican senators.

“If you are concerned with a delay in this confirmation process, remember that Senate Republicans refused to allow the Senate to consider Merrick Garland Merrick Brian GarlandOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Senate to push funding bill vote up against shutdown deadline Poll: Trump opens up 6-point lead over Biden in Iowa MORE’s nomination to the Supreme Court for nearly a year,” he wrote.

Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct by Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick.

Ford and Kavanaugh on Thursday testified before the committee regarding the allegations.

Ford, in a gripping testimony, alleged that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a party when the two were in high school in 1982. She told the Senate panel that she feared Kavanaugh would rape her and might accidentally kill her after he put his hand over her mouth to stifle her screams. Kavanaugh, testifying after Ford, aggressively denied the allegations.

The committee on Friday voted 11-10 along party lines to send Kavanaugh’s confirmation to a Senate-wide vote, but won a weeklong delay for that vote so the FBI could investigate allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against Kavanaugh by Ford.

President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE on Friday ordered a new investigation after Senate Republicans agreed to the one-week investigation.

Republicans have a 51-49 majority in the Senate and could only afford one GOP defection if the Democratic caucus unanimously votes against Kavanaugh.