Van Gelder sent a copy of that letter to CNBC after the Judiciary Committee voted to advance Kavanaugh’s nomination, and after committee member Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., called for the FBI to investigate Ford’s claims.
Asked if Judge is also willing to cooperate with law enforcement officials to investigate Ford’s allegations, in addition to those made by Swetnick, Van Gelder said he was.
“Mr. Judge did not intend his comment to be limited in scope. If the FBI or any law enforcement agency requests Mr. Judge’s cooperation, he will answer any and all questions posed to him,” Van Gelder said in an email.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, whose position on Kavanaugh’s nomination is not known, said she was pleased to hear of Judge’s promised cooperation.
Republicans hold 51 seats in the Senate, which means that if all senators who caucus with Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, along with at least two GOP senators, his nomination would fail.
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Swetnick’s lawyer, Michael Avenatti, when asked about Judge’s letter regarding Swetnick, said, “He is lying.”
“We want a full and complete investigation with the results and details shared with the public,” Avenatti told CNBC.
Earlier Friday, Avenatti had tweeted that he was asking the Judiciary Committee, once again, for a response to his offer to have Swetnick testify before the committee under oath.
Avenatti also reiterated that Swetnick is willing to talk to the FBI about Kavanaugh.
Avenatti had released Swetnick’s sworn affidavit about her claims Wednesday.
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CNBC has requested comment from the offices of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, as well of other committee members, the ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California, Flake and Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina.
Graham’s office declined to comment. The other offices did not immediately respond.
Correction: Sen. Susan Collins said she was pleased to hear of Mark Judge’s promised cooperation.