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Brett Kavanaugh: Trump court nominee clears first hurdle | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A US Senate committee has voted to approve Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the US Supreme Court as discussions continue over a possible FBI inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct. | A US Senate committee has voted to approve Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the US Supreme Court as discussions continue over a possible FBI inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct. |
The vote came as a key Republican senator said he wanted a week's delay in confirmation hearings for Judge Kavanaugh to allow this to happen. | |
However, Jeff Flake supported the vote to pass the nomination from the Judiciary Committee to the full Senate. | |
The final vote was 11-10 in favour. | The final vote was 11-10 in favour. |
All the Republicans voted in favour, while all Democrats voted against. | |
On Thursday, the committee heard testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, now a professor of psychology in California, who says Judge Kavanaugh - nominated to the court by President Donald Trump - sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers in the 1980s. Judge Kavanaugh angrily denied he had ever assaulted her or anyone else. | |
Friday saw the Senate Judiciary Committee split along partisan lines in passing a motion to hold a vote on passing Judge Kavanaugh's nomination to the full Senate. | |
Democrats accused the 11 Republicans of attempting to rush the process, while Republicans countered that the 10 Democrats were using the sexual assault allegations in an attempt to delay - and ultimately block - the conservative judge from joining the Supreme Court. | |
But later, after impassioned speeches from both sides in the committee and later discussions between members, the time for the vote came and went. | |
Amid much confusion, Mr Flake clarified to the committee that he was backing the motion to send Judge Kavanaugh's nomination for a full vote on the Senate floor - but would not support his confirmation in the Senate without the FBI probe. | |
Republicans control the Senate by a narrow 51-49 majority. Without the support of Mr Flake and one other Republican senator - and assuming all Democrats vote against - the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh cannot occur. Vice-President Mike Pence has the deciding vote in the event of a tie. |