Senate Votes To Confirm Brett Kavanaugh To The Supreme Court

The Senate has voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, securing a major victory for the Republicans before the November midterm elections. The 50-48 vote was all but a formality after Maine Republican Susan Collins and West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin announced they would vote in favor of Kavanaugh on Friday. Alaskan Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski announced that she would not support Kavanaugh, but said that she would vote present instead of no, allowing Montana Senator Steve Daines to attend his daughter's wedding. 

As the Senate voted to confirm Kavanaugh, protesters tried to disrupt the proceedings, forcing officers to remove them from the gallery. Nearly one thousand people gathered outside of the Supreme Court to protest Kavanaugh's confirmation. The protesters are angry at the Republican senators for pushing through with a vote following accusations that he sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford while they were both in high school. 

The Republicans maintain her accusations are uncorroborated, while the Democrats say the investigation into her claims was not thorough enough and have asked to give the FBI more time to investigate. 

President Donald Trump applauded Kavanaugh's confirmation on Twitter.

I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our GREAT NOMINEE, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court. Later today, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting!

Trump signed Kavanaugh's Commission of Appointment while flying to a campaign rally in Kansas on Air Force One. Kavanaugh will be sworn by Chief Justice John Roberts and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy during a private ceremony inside of the Supreme Court building.

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