Senate Judiciary Committee Votes Yes on Kavanaugh, But Flake Wants to Delay Floor Vote
Flake wants to give the FBI a week to investigate
The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted yes on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
However, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) has said he wants to delay the floor vote for a week. It sounds like he will only vote yes on the floor if the FBI investigates the sexual assault allegations for a week.
Mike Judge Agrees to Cooperate With FBI
Kavanaugh’s friend Mike Judge has agreed to cooperate with the FBI. From Fox News:
In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Friday, Mark Judge, denied the latest round of accusations brought against him and Kavanaugh by Julie Swetnick—the client of Stormy Daniels’ attorney Michael Avenatti.
Swetnick accused Kavanaugh and Judge of making unwanted sexual advances at women while at parties in high school in the early 1980s, drugging the “punch” at parties, and participating in “gang rapes” and “train rapes.” Swetnick claims she is a victim of gang rape, and said that both Judge and Kavanaugh were there to watch the incident.
“In response to the Committee’s request for information, I, MARK JUDGE, declare: The allegations in the Swetnick affidavit are so bizarre that, even while suffering from my addiction, I would remember actions so outlandish. I categorically deny them,” Judge, a recovering alcoholic, said in the letter.
“I do not know Julie Swetnick,” he continued. “I do not recall attending parties during 1981-1983 when I fondled or grabbed women in an aggressive or unwanted manner.”
Judge went on to say that he has “never spiked punch to get anyone drunk or disoriented.”
“Nor have I witnessed Brett Kavanaugh spike punch,” Judge wrote. “I have never engaged in any gang rape of any woman, including Ms. Swetnick.”
Judge said he would “cooperate with any law enforcement agency that is assigned to confidentially investigate these allegations,” and signed the statement “under penalty of felony.”
Senate Republicans Agree to Limited FBI Investigation
BREAKING: Per @jeffzeleny, the President WILL sign off on FBI investigation of Kavanaugh allegations.
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) September 28, 2018
From The Washington Examiner:
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, did not say when the Senate would hold a confirmation vote on Kavanaugh, but said he was optimistic a vote would happen. He also said the Senate would start the process by holding the first procedural vote on Kavanaugh Saturday at noon.
The investigation into Kavanaugh would end after “no later than one week,” Cornyn told reporters after a closed-door meeting with GOP lawmakers.
The Senate can’t force the FBI to open an investigation. But the Senate Judiciary Committee announced Friday afternoon it would ask the Trump administration to “instruct the FBI to conduct a supplemental FBI background investigation” into Kavanaugh, and the White House is expected to allow it in order to get the nominee through the Senate.
The investigation, a statement said, “would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today.”
Ratings
Fox News blew away everyone.
Cable ratings from the Kavanaugh hearing yesterday say a lot about who is fired up about this whole process.
Fox had more viewers than CNN and MSNBC combined during the hearing.
Fox News: 5,691,000
MSNBC: 2,892,000
CNN: 2,515,000https://t.co/OepXvFHQci
— Amber Athey (@amber_athey) September 28, 2018
People suggesting that it's all "old people" causing this clearly don't follow cable ratings. Fox also handily beat CNN and MSNBC in the key 25-54 age group. It's also not normal for Fox to win by *this* much. MSNBC is usually much closer.
— Amber Athey (@amber_athey) September 28, 2018
Maybe It Will Work?
I think pro-Kavanaugh folks dumping on Flake are seriously underestimating how savvy a move that was. He basically neutered Ds' central talking point. If the FBI finds nothing new (as is likely), Collins, Murkowski, and Manchin are unquestionably more likely to vote yes.
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) September 28, 2018
My prediction, for what it’s worth:
1) FBI report breaks no new ground;
2) Flake indicates he’ll vote yes;
3) Collins and Murkowski fall into line;
4) Kavanaugh approved by 51-49 vote.— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) September 28, 2018
Murkowski, Manchin Agree With Flake
MURKOWSKI tells me she spoke with Flake before he made his decision in Judiciary committee and they are in agreement. She says she supports having an FBI investigation that is “limited in scope”
— Haley Byrd (@byrdinator) September 28, 2018
JUST IN: Sen. Joe Manchin supports Sen. Jeff Flake's call for a delay in Kavanaugh vote for FBI background investigation.
“I applaud Senator Jeff Flake’s decision to rise above the partisan circus on display during this entire process." https://t.co/xP6e3SjxqB pic.twitter.com/PQbQ8BKDki
— ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2018
Trump Addresses Issue
NEW: Pres. Trump tells undecided senators to “do what they think is right” on Kavanaugh nomination.
On whether he’d be willing to reopen FBI background investigation, the president says, “I will be totally reliant on what Senator Grassley and the group decides to do.” pic.twitter.com/hD4DoqTwaj
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 28, 2018
Looks like Lindsey Graham will talk to Trump about this.
That Lindsey Graham moment: “Somebody’s gotta explain this to Trump!” pic.twitter.com/v8Z8V622jx
— Rebecca Berg (@rebeccagberg) September 28, 2018
Flake Flakes
Flake: “This country is being ripped apart here, and we’ve got to make sure that we do due diligence. I think we can have a short pause and make sure the FBI can investigate” #tictocnews pic.twitter.com/Xn1yHMr6kn
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) September 28, 2018
The vote went 11-10 along party lines.
The procedural vote is supposed to take place on Saturday and the final confirmation vote is scheduled on Tuesday.
We do not know if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will agree to these terms, but it wouldn’t shock me if he did, especially if Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski join Flake.
I need to stress that this is NOT an amendment. This is all informal and Flake just wanted to make his stance. He said he will ask the White House to ask the FBI to open an investigation.
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