Kavanaugh Nomination Clears Procedural Hurdle, But Confirmation Vote Delayed

Flake revealed Wednesday that a man called his office and complained that the senator would allow Dr. Christine Blasey Ford to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Vote him down, they risk enraging the party’s defiant political base.

Typically, background investigations do not go back decades, as will be needed in Kavanaugh’s case because the allegations are about things said to have happened during his teenage years.

In the interview, she acknowledges gaps in her memory caused by alcohol that night, which is said to have made her hesitant to come forward when contacted.

Media captionRepublican Senator Jeff Flake is challenged by a sexual assault survivor.

Activist demonstrate against US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in front of the court in Washington, DC, on September 28, 2018.

In fact, GOP senators were slowing Kavanaugh’s final confirmation for at least a week. President Trump then ordered a one-week investigation into Ford’s accusations.

Said Flake: “I think it would be proper to delay the floor vote for up to but not more than one week, in order to let the FBI do an investigation, limited in time and scope to the current allegations that are there”.

“And I’m Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona”, Flake added. “So if other people come forward and suggest that this is a pattern of behavior, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will look at that too”, Glasser said.

In an accompanying statement issued by the White House, Kavanaugh promised full co-operation in the investigation.

He said it was “remarkable” how many people who “saw Dr. Ford [testify] were emboldened to come out and say what had happened to them”.

Meanwhile, in Alaska Sen. Susan Collins – have also avoided taking a firm position so far.

Flake had lobbied Republican leaders to give Ford the chance to speak.

If Ms. Ford did attend the same gatherings as teenage Kavanaugh, a question would be why didn’t her best friend know him? Blasey says she managed to escape the alleged attack by Kavanaugh after Judge jumped on top of the two of them.

Feinstein’s opponent in November’s Senate election, progressive Democrat Kevin de Leon, is also criticizing her for waiting before making the allegation public.

That potential has already convinced Anchorage Republican Women’s Club president Judy Eledge to consider supporting a Murkowski primary challenger in 2022. Trump said he found Ford’s testimony “very compelling” and Kavanaugh’s angry and defiant response “incredible”. Jon Tester announced Friday they would stick with the Democratic minority in opposing the nomination. “I don’t believe the other one”, Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), both of whom remain undecided.

Other senators backed Senator Flake’s request, including Republicans Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of ME, as well as Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has been viewed as a possible vote in favour of Kavanaugh.

Republicans are on their heels in the nation’s suburbs, the region that features the most competitive House races.

The panel vote split along strict party lines with the 11 Republican members backing Kavanaugh and all 10 Democrats opposing him. It just makes it so hard. Donnelly, like many other Democratic lawmakers, called for the FBI to investigate the allegations.