Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is pressing the National Archives to hand over documents from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's work as a staff secretary for President George W. Bush — a demand that has already been rebuffed.
In a letter released Tuesday, Feinstein urged archivist David Ferriero to reconsider the agency's decision to not respond to Democratic requests for Bush-era documents.
"I am alarmed that you would deny Committee Democrats the materials necessary to fulfill their constitutional duty to provide advice and consent, while providing the materials requested by the Republicans," Feinstein wrote. The letter, reported by The Hill, was dated Monday. "I urge you to reconsider your position."
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., also failed to make the case during a phone call to Ferriero.
The National Archives "remains unable to respond to [Presidential Records Act] special access requests from ranking minority members," wrote Ferriero, The Hill reported.
In her letter, Feinstein argued Ferriero was being "overly restrictive."
"These records are crucially important to the Senate's understanding of Mr. Kavanaugh's full record, and withholding them prevents the minority from satisfying its constitutional obligation to provide advice and consent on his nomination," she wrote.
Republicans have dismissed the Democrats' requests as a "fishing expedition" — a charge repeated by the White House.