Brett Kavanaugh vote: Trump orders FBI background investigation into Supreme Court nominee after Jeff Flake calls for Senate vote delay
After the committee decision attention will turn to moderate Senate Republicans like Susan Collins and their possible voting intentions in a full chamber vote
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Your support makes all the difference.The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved Donald Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, in a vote 11-10 on party lines.
However, moderate Republican Senator Jeff Flake called for an FBI investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against the judge before a final Senate vote. Mr Trump later ordered the FBI to conduct that understanding.
Mr Flake's intervention means a final Senate vote on the nomination could be delayed for up to a week so that the FBI investigation can be completed. Mr Kavanuagh denies the allegations from three different women.
“I will vote to advance the nominee to the floor with that understanding,” Mr Flake said.
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"I think it would be proper to delay the floor vote up to, but no more than one week" to allow the FBI to investigate Dr Ford's allegations, Mr Flake said, in a stunning moment.
"This committee has acted properly," Mr Flake said, a pained look on his face. He looks a bit shell-shocked.
There is some back and forth about what the actual motion entails.
Mr Coons and Ms Feinstein have proposed and supported a motion to delay the vote by a week for a "diligent" FBI investigation after the committee voted to move the nominee to the floor of the Senate - meaning the nomination is subject to a vote from the whole Senate.
Mr Flake said he would be comfortable moving the matter out of committee and on to the floor, but he would require an FBI investigation to move it beyond that to a full vote.
Ms Klobuchar is now challenging Mr McConnell to barrell forward without an FBI investigation, a risky move when there are a few key Republicans - like Ms Collins and Ms Murkowski - who still haven’t said how they will vote for Mr Kavanaugh.
There seems to be confusion through the room as Ms Feinstein and Mr Grassley are arguing after Mr Grassley abruptly ends the hearing - citing an obscure "two-hour rule" - without a final decision about an FBI investigation.
Ms Klobuchar said "this was kind of a surprise to all of us" regarding Mr Flake's decision.
"He is saying, 'I want to see this additional investigation before voting for this nominee,'" she said.
Again, Ms Klobuchar is now challenging Mr McConnell, the Senate Majority leader, to barrel forward without an FBI investigation and hold a vote on Mr Kavanaugh's nomination, a risky move when there are a few key Republicans - like Ms Collins and Ms Murkowski - who still haven’t said how they will vote.
Mr Graham said he was going to consult with Mr Flake about the FBI investigation.
If Mr Flake is supported by a few other Republican Senators, likely Ms Collins, then Republicans would not have enough votes to confirm Mr Kavanaugh due to the size of their majority in the Senate.
The best of Capitol Hill procedural rules are at play.
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