Senate Judiciary Committee Sets Vote For Kavanaugh

The Senate Judiciary Committee announced today they would take a vote to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court after Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, the lone swing Republican vote announced his support for the nominee Friday morning. Flake announced his support for Kavanaugh just one day after Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified in front of the committee accusing Kavanaugh of sexual assault. 

The vote has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. EST. 

“After hearing more than 30 hours of testimony from Judge Kavanaugh earlier this month, I was prepared to support his nomination based on his view of the law and his record as a judge,” Flake said in statement Friday morning.

“Our system of justice affords a presumption of innocence to the accused, absent corroborating evidence,” he added. “That is what binds us to the rule of law.”

At least five Democratic senators, including Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), walked out of the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, refusing to vote on a motion setting the time for the Brett Kavanaugh vote later Friday afternoon. 

Blumenthal introduced a motion to subpoena Mark Judge - the man Dr. Ford says was also present in the room when she was allegedly attacked by Kavanaugh - but that was voted down. 

Harris told reporters outside the committee room that the process "top to bottom" has been about bullies. "Listen to the people. All we have asked for is that there be an FBI investigation."

She called Ford's testimony yesterday brave, and that she "poured out her heart" and "gave the process dignity and respect." 

"The least we could do is give her the dignity and respect of a process that has credibility," she said. "We are talking about putting on the United States Supreme Court for a lifetime."

"For the sake of our democracy and the integrity of our democracy you would think that members of the United States Senate would say wait a minute, there’s enough here to push pause," she said. "Let’s reflect on what we’re about to do," Harris said. 

The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court later today at 1:30 p.m. EST. A final vote by the full Senate could come as early as next week. 

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