The Montgomery County Police Department and Montgomery County State’s Attorney's Office explained in a letter Friday why no criminal charges were ever brought against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
No victim has come forward to file a police report, the agencies stated.
“To date, there have been no criminal reports filed with the Montgomery County Department of Police that would lead to the initiation of any criminal investigation related to Judge Kavanaugh,” a report by WBFF-TV stated.
The letter also addressed the statute of limitations for sexual assault, a key part of the Kavanaugh debate.
Police said they believe that laws on the books at the time of the offense would apply to any charges that might result from a criminal investigation.
“For example, in 1982, assault and attempted rape were both misdemeanors and subject to a one-year statute of limitations,” the letter stated.
The letter came in response to a Maryland delegate’s call to open a criminal case against Kavanaugh, according to the TV station.
A vote on Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court was delayed by allegations from professor Christine Blasey Ford. She testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week and alleges that Kavanaugh assaulted her in the early 1980s. At the time, they were both high school students in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Kavanaugh vehemently denies the allegation.
Montgomery County police stated that they and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney's Office are prepared to investigate any allegation if a victim does come forward.
According to police, the department would investigate an allegation and turn the results over to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney Office.
The Attorney’s Office would then determine if the case could be prosecuted, the police department stated.
Following hearings before the Senate committee this week, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) requested a one-week delay. The time frame was set so the FBI can investigate the accusations before the full Senate holds a votes on Kavanaugh's confirmation. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the FBI to reopen a background investigation on Kavanaugh, his choice for the seat vacated by the retirement of former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
