Former FBI Director James Comey in a New York Times op-ed wrote that the FBI should be skeptical about comments Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh made regrading his high school yearbook, insisting they are a sign the bureau must “dig deeper.”

Comey said Kavanaugh was lying about phrases in his high school yearbook during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday. 

{mosads}”[FBI agents] know that little lies point to bigger lies,” Comey wrote. “They know that obvious lies by the nominee about the meaning of words in a yearbook are a flashing signal to dig deeper.” 

The Supreme Court pick responded aggressively when Democratic senators pushed him on references to “boofing,” “Devil’s Triangle” and drinking in his high school yearbook. 

Kavanaugh claimed “boofing” was a reference to “flatulence” and “Devil’s Triangle” was a drinking game, though both are slang words that typically reference substance use and a sexual act, respectively. 

Kavanaugh during the hearing also claimed that an inscription in his yearbook calling him the “biggest contributor” to the “Beach Week Ralph Club” was a reference to “throwing up” because he has a “weak stomach.” 

Comey in the op-ed defended the FBI’s ability to investigate the claims of sexual misconduct leveled against Kavanaugh. 

“Agents can just do their work,” he wrote. “Find facts. Speak truth to power.” 

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) in a dramatic move last week called to delay the Senate floor vote on Kavanaugh by a week to allow the FBI to investigate accusations against him. 

The White House ordered the one-week probe. 

“Although the process is deeply flawed, and apparently designed to thwart the fact-gathering process, the FBI is up for this,” Comey wrote. 

Christine Blasey Ford on Thursday testified about her allegation that Kavanaugh pinned her down and groped her during a high school party in 1982. Another woman, Deborah Ramirez, last week came forward alleging that Kavanaugh exposed himself without her consent during a Yale University gathering in the 1980s.

A third woman, Julie Swetnick, in sworn testimony last Wednesday claimed that Kavanaugh engaged in a pattern of exploitative and nonconsensual behavior with women in high school, though reports this week indicated the FBI will not be investigating her claim. The White House denied that report.