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Brett Kavanaugh: Republicans push on with vote as protesters confront Jeff Flake – live updates Brett Kavanaugh: committee to vote soon as protesters confront Jeff Flake – live updates
(35 minutes later)
The dean of Yale law school, which Kavanaugh attended, has also called for an additional investigation before the confirmation process proceeds.
Dean Gerken Joins the ABA in Calling for Further Investigation. pic.twitter.com/SYAsVHwsi7
Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat who walked out of the hearing earlier, said he has to “disbelieve” Kavanaugh, who he calls an “angry” man.
Senators on both sides have largely avoided saying explicitly that they believe one person and do not believe the other.
Blumenthal addresses Dr Ford’s sons, calling their mother a hero.
It’s an interesting comment as the Republican senators have repeatedly mentioned Kavanaugh’s daughters and how the process has impacted them.
With 30 minutes to go until the vote, here’s a brief roundup of reactions on Twitter to the morning’s news:With 30 minutes to go until the vote, here’s a brief roundup of reactions on Twitter to the morning’s news:
Writer Jill FilipovicWriter Jill Filipovic
Divorce your Republican husbands.Divorce your Republican husbands.
MSNBC analyst Maya HarrisMSNBC analyst Maya Harris
Hard to hold your head up when you have no spine. https://t.co/5NwUlfy6p0Hard to hold your head up when you have no spine. https://t.co/5NwUlfy6p0
Writer Jessica ValentiWriter Jessica Valenti
I hope rape survivors confront Jeff Flake in public for the rest of his life.I hope rape survivors confront Jeff Flake in public for the rest of his life.
Journalist Elise HuJournalist Elise Hu
It feels like we're in the last season of AmericaIt feels like we're in the last season of America
John Kennedy, Republican from Louisiana, has called the process an “intergalactic freak show.”John Kennedy, Republican from Louisiana, has called the process an “intergalactic freak show.”
He spends his allotted time roundly criticizing the entire procedure.He spends his allotted time roundly criticizing the entire procedure.
“There were no winners in this room yesterday,” he said. “None. All I saw were two people, two human beings in pain.”“There were no winners in this room yesterday,” he said. “None. All I saw were two people, two human beings in pain.”
Booker has overrun his allotted time and resisted Grassley’s initial calls to wrap it up.Booker has overrun his allotted time and resisted Grassley’s initial calls to wrap it up.
“We should not brush aside her comments,” Booker says.“We should not brush aside her comments,” Booker says.
“We should listen to her. We should listen to women.”“We should listen to her. We should listen to women.”
He concludes his statement and walks out of the room.He concludes his statement and walks out of the room.
It is unclear if he will return in 40 minutes for the vote.It is unclear if he will return in 40 minutes for the vote.
Grassley as Sen. Booker speaks in Judiciary Committee - looks like a stopwatch on his phone: pic.twitter.com/tFFq6Nx6SfGrassley as Sen. Booker speaks in Judiciary Committee - looks like a stopwatch on his phone: pic.twitter.com/tFFq6Nx6Sf
Montana senator Jon Tester, a Democrat, has said he’s voting no on Kavanaugh.Montana senator Jon Tester, a Democrat, has said he’s voting no on Kavanaugh.
So this is where things stand:So this is where things stand:
With @SenatorTester and @SenDonnelly coming out as NOs today, and @JeffFlake coming out as a YES, Kavanaugh's nomination is now up to FOUR undecided Senators:1) @SenatorCollins 2) @lisamurkowski 3) @SenatorHeitkamp 4) @Sen_JoeManchinWith @SenatorTester and @SenDonnelly coming out as NOs today, and @JeffFlake coming out as a YES, Kavanaugh's nomination is now up to FOUR undecided Senators:1) @SenatorCollins 2) @lisamurkowski 3) @SenatorHeitkamp 4) @Sen_JoeManchin
Democrat Cory Booker, of New Jersey, is now up.Democrat Cory Booker, of New Jersey, is now up.
He walked out earlier in protest but is back to use his time in the meeting.He walked out earlier in protest but is back to use his time in the meeting.
“This is not a partisan moment for our country,” Booker says.“This is not a partisan moment for our country,” Booker says.
Action is also happening off camera, with senators Flake, a Republican from Arizona, and Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, meeting privately off to the side.Action is also happening off camera, with senators Flake, a Republican from Arizona, and Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, meeting privately off to the side.
Flake surprised many this morning when he said he would vote yes to Kavanaugh.Flake surprised many this morning when he said he would vote yes to Kavanaugh.
Flake just got up and left the hearing room and asked to speak privately to Coons in the ante room. They are close friends; Coons became emotional and upset this AM when he learned about Flake’s support of KavanaughFlake just got up and left the hearing room and asked to speak privately to Coons in the ante room. They are close friends; Coons became emotional and upset this AM when he learned about Flake’s support of Kavanaugh
Some pictures of the women who challenged Jeff Flake in the elevator of the Senate building on Capitol Hill. One woman stopped the elevator door from closing and said to Flake: “Look at me when I’m talking to you. You are telling me that my assault doesn’t matter.”Some pictures of the women who challenged Jeff Flake in the elevator of the Senate building on Capitol Hill. One woman stopped the elevator door from closing and said to Flake: “Look at me when I’m talking to you. You are telling me that my assault doesn’t matter.”
You can read the story here:You can read the story here:
US senator Joe Donnelly, a Democrat from Indiana, said he opposes Kavanaugh’s nomination.US senator Joe Donnelly, a Democrat from Indiana, said he opposes Kavanaugh’s nomination.
He was one of a handful of Democrats who could have swung in favor of Kavanaugh.He was one of a handful of Democrats who could have swung in favor of Kavanaugh.
“I do not view Supreme Court vacancies through a partisan lens, which is why I have used the same thorough process to evaluate nominees regardless of who the president is at the time. That was the case regarding the nomination of Judge Garland and also when I voted for Justice Gorsuch, who was President Trump’s first nominee. It has remained my approach with Judge Kavanaugh.“I do not view Supreme Court vacancies through a partisan lens, which is why I have used the same thorough process to evaluate nominees regardless of who the president is at the time. That was the case regarding the nomination of Judge Garland and also when I voted for Justice Gorsuch, who was President Trump’s first nominee. It has remained my approach with Judge Kavanaugh.
The Guardian’s Lucia Graves spoke with three women who accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment about the pain they experienced watching the hearing:The Guardian’s Lucia Graves spoke with three women who accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment about the pain they experienced watching the hearing:
“This is about character and someone who clearly has no respect for women leading our nation and we’ve just let that continue,” says Rachel Crooks, who alleges Trump kissed her forcibly on the lips in 2005. “We should not be surprised he’s nominated Brett Kavanaugh and stood by Roy Moore and other men who have been in similar situations.“This is about character and someone who clearly has no respect for women leading our nation and we’ve just let that continue,” says Rachel Crooks, who alleges Trump kissed her forcibly on the lips in 2005. “We should not be surprised he’s nominated Brett Kavanaugh and stood by Roy Moore and other men who have been in similar situations.
For Melinda McGillivray, a Florida resident who was among the first accusers to speak out against Trump, Kavanaugh’s indignation and categorical denials on Thursday carried echoes of the president’s response to her.For Melinda McGillivray, a Florida resident who was among the first accusers to speak out against Trump, Kavanaugh’s indignation and categorical denials on Thursday carried echoes of the president’s response to her.
“I truly feel like Donald Trump had a big influence on his testimony as to deny, deny, deny,” she said of Kavanaugh’s approach. “The mere fact that she wasn’t granted and FBI investigation is completely misogynistic and political.”“I truly feel like Donald Trump had a big influence on his testimony as to deny, deny, deny,” she said of Kavanaugh’s approach. “The mere fact that she wasn’t granted and FBI investigation is completely misogynistic and political.”
Republican Ted Cruz, of Texas, is speaking about the possibility that Brett Kavanaugh won’t be able to teach law ever again.Republican Ted Cruz, of Texas, is speaking about the possibility that Brett Kavanaugh won’t be able to teach law ever again.
The Harvard Crimson, the university newspaper where Kavanaugh has taught as a guest lecturer for more than a decade, reported on the hearing yesterday:The Harvard Crimson, the university newspaper where Kavanaugh has taught as a guest lecturer for more than a decade, reported on the hearing yesterday:
In a letter to this committee, my former students — male and female alike — wrote that I displayed ‘a character that impressed us all,’” Kavanaugh said Thursday. “I loved teaching law. But thanks to what some of you on this side of the committee have unleashed, I may never be able to teach again.”In a letter to this committee, my former students — male and female alike — wrote that I displayed ‘a character that impressed us all,’” Kavanaugh said Thursday. “I loved teaching law. But thanks to what some of you on this side of the committee have unleashed, I may never be able to teach again.”
According to several Law School enrollees, students sitting in Harvard Law classrooms Thursday “applauded” and “burst out in cheers” when Kavanaugh said he might never return to a teaching role.According to several Law School enrollees, students sitting in Harvard Law classrooms Thursday “applauded” and “burst out in cheers” when Kavanaugh said he might never return to a teaching role.
Klobuchar is one of four women on the 21-person senate judiciary committee.Klobuchar is one of four women on the 21-person senate judiciary committee.
“This is not a ‘he said, she said,’” she says. “This is a ‘he said, they said.’”“This is not a ‘he said, she said,’” she says. “This is a ‘he said, they said.’”
Senator Mike Lee, Republican from Utah, retreading a Republican sticking point.Senator Mike Lee, Republican from Utah, retreading a Republican sticking point.
Why wasn’t Ford’s anonymous letter immediately shared with the FBI?Why wasn’t Ford’s anonymous letter immediately shared with the FBI?
Now for Minnesota Democrat, Amy Klobuchar.Now for Minnesota Democrat, Amy Klobuchar.
This is interesting. She does not lead on the Ford allegations.This is interesting. She does not lead on the Ford allegations.
Instead, she talks about Kavanaugh’s writings on executive privilege before moving on to the sexual assault allegation.Instead, she talks about Kavanaugh’s writings on executive privilege before moving on to the sexual assault allegation.
Klobuchar says she understands that people are frustrated this process happened late in the process, but says the justice system and what matters is:Klobuchar says she understands that people are frustrated this process happened late in the process, but says the justice system and what matters is:
“What do you do when it happens? When you are in a position of power?”“What do you do when it happens? When you are in a position of power?”
Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat from Rhode Island, says he doesn’t believe Kavanaugh’s explanation of his own calendar.Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat from Rhode Island, says he doesn’t believe Kavanaugh’s explanation of his own calendar.
He says the FBI has resources to more seriously investigate the contents of the calendar and what they show about Kavanaugh’s actions that night. He also says a serious investigation would not rely solely on comments as evidence.He says the FBI has resources to more seriously investigate the contents of the calendar and what they show about Kavanaugh’s actions that night. He also says a serious investigation would not rely solely on comments as evidence.
“Over time I expect that facts to come out,” Whitehouse says. “Cover-ups never last. The sand is running through Kavanaugh’s hourglass.”“Over time I expect that facts to come out,” Whitehouse says. “Cover-ups never last. The sand is running through Kavanaugh’s hourglass.”