WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has ordered the FBI to dig deeper into Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s history in response to multiple claims of sexual misconduct during his high school and college days.
Trump says, “As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 along party lines in favor of advancing to the full Senate a confirmation vote for Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Just before the vote, there was a short recess for discussion outside the chamber. When everyone returned Senator Flake of Arizona called for a motion to delay a vote in the full Senate until an FBI investigation took place.
He requested a delay of no more than a week before the floor vote in the Senate. Republicans were not obligated to ensure an investigation took place. However, later in the afternoon they announced they would request the investigation.
Republican and Democrat senators argued following the vote about whether this would actually happen.
Senator Charles Grassley told Sen. Diane Feinstein it was “a gentlemen’s and women’s agreement.” She didn’t appear reassured by Grassley’s statement.
Colorado Senator Michael Bennet applauded efforts to start an FBI probe.
Appreciate effort by @JeffFlake @lisamurkowski @ChrisCoons @Sen_JoeManchin to delay the vote and allow for an FBI investigation. This is one small but important step toward restoring our responsibility to advise and consent. The FBI must thoroughly investigate the allegations.
— Michael Bennet (@SenBennetCO) September 28, 2018
A decision on when a floor vote would take place is up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Kavanaugh has denied that he sexually assaulted a woman when they were teenagers. The committee on Thursday heard emotional and sometimes combative testimony from both Kavanaugh and his accuser.
