Kennedy: I believe Kavanaugh – will vote to confirm

Moments before the panel convened, Arizona Sen.

Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona, did propose a delay of up to a week to allow the FBI to investigate allegations against Kavanaugh before the full Senate votes on the nomination.

Both Archila and Gallagher described themselves as survivors of sexual assault, making tearful and impassioned pleas for Flake to reconsider his position.

Ultimately, Flake stopped short of where Democrats hoped he would land, which was putting a hold on a committee vote.

On Friday evening, Flake met with Coppins to explain why he had the last-minute change of mind. But it’s hard to forget.

Shortly afterward, Flake took his seat in the committee meeting, where Coons soon made some remarks.

“This is a lifelong appointment to the highest court in the land, with critical issues like women’s reproductive rights and health care hanging in the balance”, Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, the Democratic candidate in the race said in a prepared statement. Along the way, he was confronted by two angry women, Maria Gallagher and Ana Maria Archila.

“This is not tolerable”, they were filmed telling Mr Flake.

“Notably, Ms. Keyser does not refute Dr. Ford’s account, and she has already told the press that she believes Dr. Ford’s account”.

Another woman said Flake was allowing a person who “violated someone” to serve on the Supreme Court.

Committee Republicans do not appear to have taken their “confessions” seriously; they went largely ignored during Thursday’s hearing.

And confirming Kavanaugh even if the allegations from Ford are true is what 54 percent of Republicans want, according to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released this week before Thursday’s hearing.

Flake had lobbied Republican leaders to give Ford the chance to speak. “I continue to strongly support Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court”.

“No, I haven’t talked with anyone from that party”, she said.

Flake, cornered in the elevator, shifted between looking at them and looking down.

Kennedy expressed sympathy for both Kavanaugh and Ford.

The American Bar Association late Thursday called on the Judiciary committee and the full Senate to delay the vote until the Federal Bureau of Investigation has time to do a full background check on the claims made by Ford and other women. “I was – I’m so encouraged when he said to me. this whole thing is tearing our country apart and we have to do something”.

Susan Conger, 64, a former math teacher from Augusta, Georgia, who also worked in the Reagan administration, said she turned off her television during Thursday’s hearing but has followed the news coverage of the testimony. Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida, Joe Donnelly of IN and Jon Tester of Montana all said they would vote no. I’ve heard from close friends and I had no idea. The entire emotional exchange was captured on live television.

And within hours, Archila and Gallagher were flooded with requests for interviews about their role in the day’s events.

Currently, three women have come forward to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual harassment or assault during his high school and college years.

Speaking to the AP by phone after the confrontation, Gallagher said she didn’t intend to tell Flake about her assault – she had never told anyone before.

“This was not really a battle of the truth; it was a battle of memories”, Kennedy said.

But independent candidate and State Treasurer Terry Hayes said the decision on Kavanaugh was up to King and Collins to make. She said he put his hand over her mouth to muffle her screams. “What are you doing, sir?”

“I tried to yell for help”.