Leland Keyser, a friend of Christine Blasey Ford, told FBI investigators she was pressured by Ford’s allies to reconsider her initial statement that she was unaware of evidence supporting Ford’s claims of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

Keyser eventually revised her statement, saying she could not corroborate Ford’s claims, but believed the assault had happened.

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She told the FBI that following her initial statement, Monica McLean, a retired FBI agent and friend of Ford’s, reached out and urged Keyser to clarify what she had said, according to the Journal.

“Any notion or claim that Ms. McLean pressured Leland Keyser to alter Ms. Keyser’s account of what she recalled concerning the alleged incident between Dr. Ford and Brett Kavanaugh is absolutely false,” David Laufman, McLean’s lawyer, said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.

Keyser’s amended comments came after Kavanaugh cited her initial statement in a hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.

“Dr. Ford’s allegation is not merely uncorroborated, it is refuted by the very people she says were there, including by a long-time friend of hers,” he said, referring to Keyser.

The Wall Street Journal report says Kavanaugh, too, reached out to former classmates in an effort to bolster his denials of accusations of sexual misconduct leveled against him by three women.

Kavanaugh's confirmation process has been thrown into tumult by allegations of sexual misconduct. He issued a searing denial of any wrongdoing at the Senate hearing last week in which he suggested the allegations were planned smears and part of “revenge on behalf of the Clintons.”

The FBI returned the results of a weeklong investigation into the allegations to the Senate on Thursday.

Many Senate Republicans claim that there was no corroborating evidence for any of the claims against Kavanaugh and have vowed to confirm the nominee in a vote over the weekend.

Sens. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsClub for Growth to spend million in ads for Trump Supreme Court nominee Maryland's GOP governor says Republicans shouldn't rush SCOTUS vote before election The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November MORE (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiClub for Growth to spend million in ads for Trump Supreme Court nominee Pebble Mine CEO resigns over secretly recorded comments about government officials Maryland's GOP governor says Republicans shouldn't rush SCOTUS vote before election MORE (R-Alaska), Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeHow fast population growth made Arizona a swing state Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden MORE (R-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinManchin defends Supreme Court candidate Barrett: 'It's awful to bring in religion' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House MORE (D-W.Va.) all have not yet stated how they intended to vote, though Collins and Flake both expressed satisfaction with the FBI inquiry, saying they believed it was thorough.

Republicans currently hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate and can only afford one defection if the Democratic caucus unanimously votes to reject Kavanaugh’s nomination.