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| Brett Kavanaugh: Trump defers to Senate after Jeff Flake calls for FBI investigation – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| We’re going to close down this live blog now. Here’s a summary of the day’s events: | We’re going to close down this live blog now. Here’s a summary of the day’s events: |
| The Senate will ask the White House to order the FBI to carry out a week-long background check on Brett Kavanaugh, before voting on whether or not to confirm him. | The Senate will ask the White House to order the FBI to carry out a week-long background check on Brett Kavanaugh, before voting on whether or not to confirm him. |
| Two Republican senators, including Jeff Flake, have said such a move is a condition of their agreeing to vote for him, forcing the hand of the majority leadership. | Two Republican senators, including Jeff Flake, have said such a move is a condition of their agreeing to vote for him, forcing the hand of the majority leadership. |
| Mark Judge, who refused to testify to the Senate committee, says he will cooperate with the investigation. | Mark Judge, who refused to testify to the Senate committee, says he will cooperate with the investigation. |
| Earlier, that committee voted 11 to 10 to advance the nomination after Flake, a Republican, asked for the FBI investigation. | Earlier, that committee voted 11 to 10 to advance the nomination after Flake, a Republican, asked for the FBI investigation. |
| Flake’s proposal was informal because the judiciary committee doesn’t set the vote, senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is responsible for that. | Flake’s proposal was informal because the judiciary committee doesn’t set the vote, senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is responsible for that. |
| Donald Trump had been meeting with the president of Chile during the committee meeting but said shortly after the vote: “I just want it to work out well for the country.” | Donald Trump had been meeting with the president of Chile during the committee meeting but said shortly after the vote: “I just want it to work out well for the country.” |
| The day started with a morning vote on whether to vote to advance the nomination in the afternoon. Nearly all the Democratic senators walked out in protest of that vote, but ultimately participated in the afternoon vote. | The day started with a morning vote on whether to vote to advance the nomination in the afternoon. Nearly all the Democratic senators walked out in protest of that vote, but ultimately participated in the afternoon vote. |
| You can read the full report here: | You can read the full report here: |
| The Senate judiciary committee says the FBI’s supplemental background check would be limited to “current credible allegations” against Kavanaugh – and that it must be completed within one week. | The Senate judiciary committee says the FBI’s supplemental background check would be limited to “current credible allegations” against Kavanaugh – and that it must be completed within one week. |
| It will ask the Trump administration to order the checks be carried out before a confirmation vote. | It will ask the Trump administration to order the checks be carried out before a confirmation vote. |
| The second most-powerful Republican in the US Senate, John Cornyn, says the chamber will meet on Saturday to vote on a procedural motion on Kavanaugh’s nomination. | The second most-powerful Republican in the US Senate, John Cornyn, says the chamber will meet on Saturday to vote on a procedural motion on Kavanaugh’s nomination. |
| The Senate will vote on a motion to proceed, one of the steps leading to a full chamber vote on the nomination itself, Reuters reported. | The Senate will vote on a motion to proceed, one of the steps leading to a full chamber vote on the nomination itself, Reuters reported. |
| A lawyer for Mark Judge, a schoolfriend of Kavanaugh who Ford testified was in the room when she was assaulted, says he would answer any and all questions put to him by investigators, according to Reuters. | A lawyer for Mark Judge, a schoolfriend of Kavanaugh who Ford testified was in the room when she was assaulted, says he would answer any and all questions put to him by investigators, according to Reuters. |
| According to the Associated Press, the Democratic senator, Joe Manchin, often viewed as a possible swing vote, says he supports Flake’s call to delay voting so the FBI can conduct a background investigation. | According to the Associated Press, the Democratic senator, Joe Manchin, often viewed as a possible swing vote, says he supports Flake’s call to delay voting so the FBI can conduct a background investigation. |
| I applaud Senator Jeff Flake’s decision to rise above the partisan circus on display during this entire process. It took courage to take a stand and call for a one-week FBI investigation to get to the bottom of the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh. This has been a partisan and divisive process. | I applaud Senator Jeff Flake’s decision to rise above the partisan circus on display during this entire process. It took courage to take a stand and call for a one-week FBI investigation to get to the bottom of the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh. This has been a partisan and divisive process. |
| Here’s a clip of Jeff Flake’s dramatic intervention before the committee vote: | Here’s a clip of Jeff Flake’s dramatic intervention before the committee vote: |
| The Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, says she supports the proposed one-week delay to the US Senate’s Kavanaugh vote. | The Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, says she supports the proposed one-week delay to the US Senate’s Kavanaugh vote. |
| The committee cannot force such a delay but Republicans hoping to push through the nomination in a full Senate vote will need all the support they can get, meaning it would be difficult for them to steamroller wavering the likes of Murkowski and Flake and win. | The committee cannot force such a delay but Republicans hoping to push through the nomination in a full Senate vote will need all the support they can get, meaning it would be difficult for them to steamroller wavering the likes of Murkowski and Flake and win. |
| The senate judiciary committee has finally voted on whether Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the supreme court should be advanced to the full Senate after a chaotic morning. | The senate judiciary committee has finally voted on whether Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the supreme court should be advanced to the full Senate after a chaotic morning. |
| The committee voted 11 to 10 to advance the nomination after senator Jeff Flake, a Republican, asked for the vote to be delayed one week so the FBI could investigate the accusations made against Kavanaugh. | The committee voted 11 to 10 to advance the nomination after senator Jeff Flake, a Republican, asked for the vote to be delayed one week so the FBI could investigate the accusations made against Kavanaugh. |
| Flake’s proposal was informal because the judiciary committee doesn’t set the vote, senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is responsible for that. The implication is that Flake will vote no if the investigation doesn’t happen and the vote advances early next week as was initially planned. | Flake’s proposal was informal because the judiciary committee doesn’t set the vote, senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is responsible for that. The implication is that Flake will vote no if the investigation doesn’t happen and the vote advances early next week as was initially planned. |
| Donald Trump had been meeting with the president of Chile during the committee meeting but said shortly after the vote: “I just want it to work out well for the country.” | Donald Trump had been meeting with the president of Chile during the committee meeting but said shortly after the vote: “I just want it to work out well for the country.” |
| The day started with a morning vote on whether to vote to advance the nomination in the afternoon. Nearly all the Democratic senators walked out in protest of that vote, but ultimately participated in the afternoon vote. | The day started with a morning vote on whether to vote to advance the nomination in the afternoon. Nearly all the Democratic senators walked out in protest of that vote, but ultimately participated in the afternoon vote. |
| Trump has also just commented on Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony. | Trump has also just commented on Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony. |
| “I thought her testimony was very compelling, and she looks like a very fine woman to me,” Trump told reporters. | “I thought her testimony was very compelling, and she looks like a very fine woman to me,” Trump told reporters. |
| “Brett’s testimony was, likewise, really something that I hadn’t seen before.” | “Brett’s testimony was, likewise, really something that I hadn’t seen before.” |
| And now, Donald Trump: “I’m going to let the Senate handle that.” | And now, Donald Trump: “I’m going to let the Senate handle that.” |
| He says he has only heard a little bit about the meeting because he is meeting with the president of Chile. | He says he has only heard a little bit about the meeting because he is meeting with the president of Chile. |
| “I just want it to work out well for the country,” Trump says. | “I just want it to work out well for the country,” Trump says. |
| Amid a nice bout of chaos, Politico’s chief political correspondent appears to have much more confidence than US senators. | Amid a nice bout of chaos, Politico’s chief political correspondent appears to have much more confidence than US senators. |
| This isn’t complicated:There’s no legislative mechanism to enforce Flake’s agreement with Ds. McConnell could call his bluff and bring #Kavanaugh vote to the floor immediately — *if* he believes Flake is the only R who supports the delay. Would be an enormous gamble. | This isn’t complicated:There’s no legislative mechanism to enforce Flake’s agreement with Ds. McConnell could call his bluff and bring #Kavanaugh vote to the floor immediately — *if* he believes Flake is the only R who supports the delay. Would be an enormous gamble. |
| Several things could happen on Kavanaugh: Senate could vote to move to the nomination..& then not hold procedural votes or move to vote on the nomination. Or...McConnell could hold off completely, contingent upon Flake’s wishes..& then move on the nomination. Path is unclear now | Several things could happen on Kavanaugh: Senate could vote to move to the nomination..& then not hold procedural votes or move to vote on the nomination. Or...McConnell could hold off completely, contingent upon Flake’s wishes..& then move on the nomination. Path is unclear now |
| The meeting’s final moments: | The meeting’s final moments: |
| Open mics captured Grassley, Feinstein & Leahy bickering over what happened in the Judiciary Cmte. Kavanaugh has advanced to the floor of the Senate but there's a "gentlemen and women's agreement" to delay floor vote for a week so FBI can probe. McConnell is not bound by the deal pic.twitter.com/Z4orwHqi1k | Open mics captured Grassley, Feinstein & Leahy bickering over what happened in the Judiciary Cmte. Kavanaugh has advanced to the floor of the Senate but there's a "gentlemen and women's agreement" to delay floor vote for a week so FBI can probe. McConnell is not bound by the deal pic.twitter.com/Z4orwHqi1k |
| And now, South Carolina Republican, Lindsey Graham: “Somebody has got to explain this to Trump, so I guess that’ll be my job.” | And now, South Carolina Republican, Lindsey Graham: “Somebody has got to explain this to Trump, so I guess that’ll be my job.” |
| Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat, tells reporters: “we are in a better place than we were at 8am this morning.” | Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat, tells reporters: “we are in a better place than we were at 8am this morning.” |
| In sum, Flake is now suggesting he won't vote to confirm Kavanaugh without a one-week FBI probe into Dr. Ford's allegations. That gives nice cover to other hold-outs, Collins and Murkowski.Up to McConnell to grant that week of delay, which he def doesn't want to do. | In sum, Flake is now suggesting he won't vote to confirm Kavanaugh without a one-week FBI probe into Dr. Ford's allegations. That gives nice cover to other hold-outs, Collins and Murkowski.Up to McConnell to grant that week of delay, which he def doesn't want to do. |
| I'll just say we *still* don't have answers about July 1st and this gathering of people Ford says was present the night of the assault and which Kavanaugh notes in his calendar that he was with drinking beers.An FBI investigation could definitely clear those questions up. | I'll just say we *still* don't have answers about July 1st and this gathering of people Ford says was present the night of the assault and which Kavanaugh notes in his calendar that he was with drinking beers.An FBI investigation could definitely clear those questions up. |
| A stunned Kamala Harris exiting the judiciary committee: “I can’t even. I don’t know. I don’t know how to react to that.” | A stunned Kamala Harris exiting the judiciary committee: “I can’t even. I don’t know. I don’t know how to react to that.” |