Iran press/America: Donald Trump said in a statement that the updated investigation into his nominee for America’s highest bench Brett Kavanaugh, “must be limited in scope” and “completed in less than one week”. However, he later suggested in a tweet that it was only a matter of time before Kavanaugh was appointed.
According to Reuters, Senate Republicans voted to advance Kavanaugh’s nomination despite a last-minute change of heart by a Republican senator Jeff Flake, who broke ranks and called for an FBI investigation into the sexual assault allegations that have roiled the judge’s confirmation process.
The Senate judiciary committee voted 11-10, along strict party lines, to send Kavanaugh’s nomination to the floor for the full chamber’s consideration.
senator Jeff Flake called for an FBI investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh
As his Republican colleagues took turns declaring their support for Kavanaugh, Flake abruptly left the room to engage in private discussions with Democrats on the committee.
Nearly an hour of tense, closed-door deliberations followed, pushing the vote past its scheduled time. As members exited and re-entered the room several times, seeking to make sense of what was transpiring behind-the-scenes, Flake finally re-emerged before the committee and voiced support delaying a full Senate vote on Kavanaugh pending a FBI investigation.
“We can have a short pause and make sure the FBI can investigate,” he said.
Women marched to the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to protest the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, one day after a congressional hearing into sexual misconduct allegations against the judge.
Demonstrators gather to protest the Senate Judiciary committee's vote on Kavanaugh
Trump, who has himself faced accusations of sexual misconduct, chose Kavanaugh to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired effective in July.
Christine Blasey Ford, a university professor in California, has accused Kavanaugh of attacking her and trying to remove her clothing while he was drunk at a suburban Maryland party in 1982 when they were both high school students, allegations Kavanaugh has called “completely false.”
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