GOP lawmakers have much to consider following the Senate Judiciary’s vote to advance Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Senate floor for a full vote next week.
As senators prepared to vote on the Supreme Court nomination, Sen. Jeff Flake seemed to backtrack on his previous commitment to support the nominee as the prosecutor who questioned his accuser offered some words that could sway those wavering in their decision.
Flake, who announced Friday morning that he would support Kavanaugh, was almost instantly met by protesters at the Capitol who blocked his elevator in an attempt to berate him for supporting Kavanaugh. Just before the scheduled 1:30pm vote, Flake was corralled by Democrats who apparently swayed his vote.
Though the Arizona Republican didn’t take back his ‘yes’ vote, he seemed to get cold feet and asked for a delay. According to the Hill:
“I have been speaking with a number of people on the other side … in regard to making sure that we do due diligence here,” Flake said.
“I think it would be proper to delay the floor vote for up to but not more than one week in order to let the FBI do an investigation, limited in time and scope.”
Meanwhile, Rachel Mitchell, the Arizona prosecutor specializing in sex crimes who questioned Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford on Thursday, spoke to a group including all 51 Republican senators on the eve of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote.
“Mitchell spelled it out and was clear with senators that she could not take this anywhere near a courtroom,” a source told Fox News.
Rachel Mitchell, Republican’s outside questioner, privately told GOP senators tonight that based on the evidence she heard at the hearing, she would not have prosecuted or even been able to obtain a search warrant, according to three Republicans
— Nicholas Fandos (@npfandos) September 28, 2018
Telling senators the case could not hold up in a courtroom, Mitchell reportedly explained that she wouldn’t charge Kavanaugh and wouldn’t even seek a search warrant.
With key Republicans like Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mike Enzi of Wyoming on the fence on the Supreme Court nominee, Flake’s remarks and Mitchell’s conclusions could help sway the final decisions of lawmakers as they move the nomination to a full Senate vote scheduled for next Tuesday.
In fact, Murkowski reportedly already indicated she is supporting Flake’s delay request, according to The Hill.
Sarah Mimms from Buzzfeed News reported:
Updated: The remaining unknowns on Kavanaugh:
– Sen. Susan Collins (R)
– Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R)
– Sen. Joe Manchin (D)
– Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D)
– Potentially: Sen. Ben Sasse (R). He’s on Judiciary so we’ll know soon— Sarah Mimms (@SarahMMimms) September 28, 2018
Sen. Lindsey Graham, who passionately defended Kavanaugh and blasted many of his colleagues for their treatment of the highly qualified judge, reiterated his support for the nominee on Friday as senators weighed in.
Democrats, however, have vowed to continue investigating Kavanaugh with threats to impeach him if he is confirmed. They continued to fill Friday’s committee hearing with staunch defending of Ford while offering no presumption of innocence to the judge.
Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly announced he was opposing Kavanaugh’s nomination as did others who spoke Friday morning.
JUST IN: Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly announces opposition to Kavanaugh nomination.
“I would gladly welcome the opportunity to work with President Trump on a new nominee for this critically important position.” https://t.co/ooFkUtZsbE pic.twitter.com/ZkKwuxQYUt
— ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2018
In a remarkable show of immaturity, some Democrats including Sen. Kamala Harris walked out of the proceedings soon after it began because a motion presented by Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumethal was shot down. They exited the chambers right into the waiting arms of the media, ready to spread their propaganda.
For Mitchell’s part in Thursday’s hearing, her performance got ‘mixed’ reviews to say the least. Some gave her credit for doing the job she did.
My understanding is that Rachel Mitchell, despite her lackluster performance at the hearing, was helpful at the conference meeting, explaining how there is no corroboration for Ford’s account, in fact negative corroboration
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) September 28, 2018
I thought she did a wonderful job. She was methodical and the Dems weren’t able to counter.
— ZaffoZaza (@ZaffoZaza) September 28, 2018
Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, however, said Mitchell was “totally and completely incompetent” in questioning Christine Blasey Ford.
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