This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/28/jeff-flake-brett-kavanaugh-latest-confirmation-senate
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Jeff Flake: senator says he will vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh | Jeff Flake: senator says he will vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh gained the support of a key Republican senator on Friday, virtually ensuring his nomination will advance to the full Senate a day after Kavanaugh adamantly denied sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford, who insists she is “100%” certain he did. | Supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh gained the support of a key Republican senator on Friday, virtually ensuring his nomination will advance to the full Senate a day after Kavanaugh adamantly denied sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford, who insists she is “100%” certain he did. |
| Moments before the Senate judiciary committee panel convened to discuss voting on Kavanaugh’s confirmation to America’s highest bench, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, a member of the committee, announced he would vote to confirm Kavanaugh. | Moments before the Senate judiciary committee panel convened to discuss voting on Kavanaugh’s confirmation to America’s highest bench, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, a member of the committee, announced he would vote to confirm Kavanaugh. |
| Flake said Kavanaugh was entitled to the “presumption of innocence … absent corroborating evidence”. A committee confirmation vote is set for 1.30 pm ET. | Flake said Kavanaugh was entitled to the “presumption of innocence … absent corroborating evidence”. A committee confirmation vote is set for 1.30 pm ET. |
| “While some may argue that a different standard should apply regarding the Senate’s advice and consent responsibilities, I believe that the constitution’s provisions of fairness and due process apply here as well,” Flake said. “I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.” | “While some may argue that a different standard should apply regarding the Senate’s advice and consent responsibilities, I believe that the constitution’s provisions of fairness and due process apply here as well,” Flake said. “I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.” |
| Shortly afterwards, two women cornered him in an elevator as he headed back to the committee room, and in a dramatic exchange, they implored him to change his mind about his Kavanaugh vote. | Shortly afterwards, two women cornered him in an elevator as he headed back to the committee room, and in a dramatic exchange, they implored him to change his mind about his Kavanaugh vote. |
| The confrontation could be seen in TV footage blocking the Arizona senator from closing the elevator door. Through her tears, one woman said she had been a victim of sexual assault, and begged Flake to look her in the eye. She said: “Look at me and tell me that it doesn’t matter what happened to me.” | The confrontation could be seen in TV footage blocking the Arizona senator from closing the elevator door. Through her tears, one woman said she had been a victim of sexual assault, and begged Flake to look her in the eye. She said: “Look at me and tell me that it doesn’t matter what happened to me.” |
| Another woman said Flake was allowing someone who “violated someone” to serve on the supreme court. Flake did not respond. He looked at them, and looked at the ground as he listened. Eventually a member of Flake’s staff said they needed to go and the doors closed. | |
| Women confront Sen. Jeff Flake after he says he'll vote yes to Kavanuagh: “That’s what you’re telling all women in America, that they don’t matter. They should just keep it to themselves because if they have told the truth you’re just going to help that man to power anyway.” pic.twitter.com/T7fSpyT69E | Women confront Sen. Jeff Flake after he says he'll vote yes to Kavanuagh: “That’s what you’re telling all women in America, that they don’t matter. They should just keep it to themselves because if they have told the truth you’re just going to help that man to power anyway.” pic.twitter.com/T7fSpyT69E |
| Kavanaugh is a darling of the conservative right in America but his path to the supreme court has been hit by a series of sexual assault allegations from three different women. California professor Christine Blasey Ford, the first of his accusers, gave testimony on Thursday in a hearing that gripped the nation – both for her powerful description of abuse but also for Kavanaugh’s angry denial of wrongdoing. | Kavanaugh is a darling of the conservative right in America but his path to the supreme court has been hit by a series of sexual assault allegations from three different women. California professor Christine Blasey Ford, the first of his accusers, gave testimony on Thursday in a hearing that gripped the nation – both for her powerful description of abuse but also for Kavanaugh’s angry denial of wrongdoing. |
| The extraordinary and emotional day of testimony saw Kavanaugh deny accusations of sexual assault as “unequivocally” false. Meanwhile Ford, testified that she was “100%” certain Kavanaugh attacked her. | The extraordinary and emotional day of testimony saw Kavanaugh deny accusations of sexual assault as “unequivocally” false. Meanwhile Ford, testified that she was “100%” certain Kavanaugh attacked her. |
| The Senate judiciary committee, where the initial vote on Kavanaugh will be held, is narrowly split with an 11-10 Republican majority. Democrats are expected to oppose the nominee. But even if the panel deadlocks on whether to recommend the judge for confirmation, the full Senate could start taking procedural votes on Saturday on Kavanaugh, setting up a final vote as soon as Tuesday. | The Senate judiciary committee, where the initial vote on Kavanaugh will be held, is narrowly split with an 11-10 Republican majority. Democrats are expected to oppose the nominee. But even if the panel deadlocks on whether to recommend the judge for confirmation, the full Senate could start taking procedural votes on Saturday on Kavanaugh, setting up a final vote as soon as Tuesday. |
| As the committee prepared for a Friday vote, its result remained uncertain. Flake had previously voiced concern over Kavanaugh. | As the committee prepared for a Friday vote, its result remained uncertain. Flake had previously voiced concern over Kavanaugh. |
| “She was certainly a compelling person,” Flake told reporters when asked what his “gut instinct” was after hearing from Ford and Kavanaugh. “She gave good testimony.” | “She was certainly a compelling person,” Flake told reporters when asked what his “gut instinct” was after hearing from Ford and Kavanaugh. “She gave good testimony.” |
| The crucial swing votes of the Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are still, however, in question. Late on Thursday night, the Republican senator Bob Corker, who had initially expressed some misgivings, announced his support for Kavanaugh. | The crucial swing votes of the Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are still, however, in question. Late on Thursday night, the Republican senator Bob Corker, who had initially expressed some misgivings, announced his support for Kavanaugh. |
| The remarkable testimony appears to have only sharpened the partisan divide over Donald Trump’s nominee. Republicans praised Ford’s bravery in coming forward, but many of them said her account would not affect their support for Kavanaugh. | The remarkable testimony appears to have only sharpened the partisan divide over Donald Trump’s nominee. Republicans praised Ford’s bravery in coming forward, but many of them said her account would not affect their support for Kavanaugh. |
| Trump also made clear that he was sticking by his nominee. “His testimony was powerful, honest and riveting,” he tweeted. “The Senate must vote!” | Trump also made clear that he was sticking by his nominee. “His testimony was powerful, honest and riveting,” he tweeted. “The Senate must vote!” |
| Meanwhile, there were signs the remarkable testimony before the panel in which Kavanaugh angrily declared his innocence and Ford calmly recounted the moment in which she says he attacked her had registered negatively with two organizations whose support Kavanaugh had earlier received. | Meanwhile, there were signs the remarkable testimony before the panel in which Kavanaugh angrily declared his innocence and Ford calmly recounted the moment in which she says he attacked her had registered negatively with two organizations whose support Kavanaugh had earlier received. |
| The American Bar Association, which previously gave Kavanaugh its highest rating of “well qualified”, asked the Senate judiciary committee and the full Senate to delay the vote until the FBI could do a full background check on the assault claims something Trump has refused to order. | The American Bar Association, which previously gave Kavanaugh its highest rating of “well qualified”, asked the Senate judiciary committee and the full Senate to delay the vote until the FBI could do a full background check on the assault claims something Trump has refused to order. |
| The White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, dismissed that on Friday, telling reporters that Kavanaugh has already “been through six separate background investigations by the FBI”. | The White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, dismissed that on Friday, telling reporters that Kavanaugh has already “been through six separate background investigations by the FBI”. |
| Late Thursday, the magazine of the Jesuit religious order in the United States withdrew its endorsement of Kavanaugh, saying the nomination was no longer in the interests of the country and “should be withdrawn”. | Late Thursday, the magazine of the Jesuit religious order in the United States withdrew its endorsement of Kavanaugh, saying the nomination was no longer in the interests of the country and “should be withdrawn”. |
| “If Senate Republicans proceed with his nomination, they will be prioritizing policy aims over a woman’s report of an assault,” the America magazine editors wrote. “Were he to be confirmed without this allegation being firmly disproved, it would hang over his future decisions on the supreme court for decades and further divide the country.” | “If Senate Republicans proceed with his nomination, they will be prioritizing policy aims over a woman’s report of an assault,” the America magazine editors wrote. “Were he to be confirmed without this allegation being firmly disproved, it would hang over his future decisions on the supreme court for decades and further divide the country.” |
| The magazine’s reversal is significant given Kavanaugh has repeatedly cited his Roman Catholic faith and his years as a student at the Jesuit-run Georgetown Prep school in Maryland. | The magazine’s reversal is significant given Kavanaugh has repeatedly cited his Roman Catholic faith and his years as a student at the Jesuit-run Georgetown Prep school in Maryland. |
| Former President George W Bush has been advocating for Kavanaugh with wavering senators in recent days, according to a person familiar with Bush’s outreach who was not authorized to speak publicly. | Former President George W Bush has been advocating for Kavanaugh with wavering senators in recent days, according to a person familiar with Bush’s outreach who was not authorized to speak publicly. |
| Brett Kavanaugh | Brett Kavanaugh |
| US supreme court | US supreme court |
| US Senate | US Senate |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |