Leland Keyser, a friend of Christine Blasey Ford who Ford claimed was at the party where she was allegedly sexually assaulted by Brett Kavanaugh, has not only refuted the accuser’s version of the story, but told FBI investigators that Ford’s “allies” tried to pressure her to change the original version.
“Simply put, Ms. Keyser does not know Mr. Kavanaugh and she has no recollection of ever being at a party or gathering where he was present, with, or without, Dr. Ford,” her lawyer stated under penalty of felony.
In retaliation, Ford attacked Keyser – and said she wouldn’t go along with the Ford fairytale because “she has health issues and needs to take care of herself.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Keyser informed investigators that Ford’s friend, former FBI agent Monica McLean, had pressured her to change the original statement.
NEWS: Leland Keyser told FBI she felt pressured by Monica McLean, Ford’s friend, to revisit her initial statement that she knew nothing about the assault. Her later statement said she believed but couldn’t corroborate Ford’s account. w/@nataliewsj @sgurman https://t.co/oCYIc8JuKN
— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) October 5, 2018
Then there’s this mind-blowing statement from the WSJ – Keyser’s claim of being pressured to change her story offered “a glimpse into how Dr. Ford’s allies were working behind the scenes to lobby old classmates to bolster their versions of the alleged incident.”
‘Their versions’ of the incident. Not the truth, their version of the truth which is by definition, not the actual truth.
McLean’s lawyer said the allegation was “absolutely false,” but according to the report, the FBI has passed along text messages from McLean to Keyser to the White House and Senate.
And whaddya know!
The FBI obtained text messages from MONICA McLEAN, Ford beach friend and former press agent of Schumer right-hand Preet Bharara, to LELAND KEYSER.
The texts asked Keyser to “clarify” away her statement that she never met Kavanaugh!https://t.co/o1bELmPsYH
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) October 5, 2018
If the name Monica McLean sounds familiar, you may recall she was part of another falsehood that came out of Ford’s testimony. Under questioning by sex crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, Ford claimed she had never offered tips on how to pass a polygraph.
An ex-boyfriend of Ford, however, claimed she’d helped a friend prepare for a polygraph exam once upon a time. That friend was McLean. McLean the FBI agent.
Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell: “Have you ever given tips or advice to somebody who was looking to take a polygraph test?”
Christine Blasey Ford: “Never.” pic.twitter.com/k5Pm424f22
— Ryan Saavedra 🇺🇸 (@RealSaavedra) September 30, 2018
An executive summary of the seventh and hopefully final FBI investigation, which included an interview with Keyser, concluded: “There is no corroboration of the allegations made by Dr. Ford or Ms. Ramirez.”
Even after doing their best to intimidate witnesses? Wow, it really must have been a poorly coordinated smear campaign if that is the case.
Some of the key takeaways from the summary involve just how thorough this seventh investigation into Kavanaugh was.
“In the course of its investigation, the FBI decided to reach out to eleven people, ten of whom agreed to be interviewed,” a statement reads.
“The FBI reached out to all witnesses with potential firsthand knowledge of the allegations,” it continued. “The FBI provided to the Senate 12 detailed FD-302 reports summarizing their interviews.”
- 11 people, 10 who complied.
- All witnesses with firsthand knowledge.
- Detailed reports.
Now contrast that with what Democrats have been saying about the investigation.
Sen. Tim Kaine claimed, “the whole thing is a sham.” Senator Jeff Merkley stated the report was “designed to provide cover, not to provide the truth.” Senator Bob Menendez said it was a “bulls*** investigation.”
Who’s telling the truth? The executive summary seems to be bolstering what Republicans have said all along, while it makes Democrats look like petulant, bitter liars.
