Washington D.C.- Earlier this afternoon, members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a vote on whether or not to nominate Judge Brett Kavanaugh to a full vote before the U.S. Senate for the vacant seat on the United States Supreme Court. The vote went along party lines with Republicans being the majority, 11-10.
Kavanaugh was nominated July 9, 2018 by President Donald J. Trump to fill the vacant seat created by the retirement of Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kavanaugh has served on the U.S.Court of Appeals since being confirmed to the seat on May 26, 2006.
Kavanaugh underwent a first round of confirmation questioning beginning September 5, 2018. Two weeks later, an allegation of sexual assault from a former acquaintance, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, that happened in the summer of 1982(estimated).
On September 27, 2018, the Judiciary Committee held a second round of questioning in which Dr. Ford read a prepared opening statement, and was questioned by Democrat members of the Committee and a Representative for the Republican members. The hearing at times became quiet contentious. Judge Kavanaugh attended the hearing and was questioned later in the day( after Dr. Ford was done).
On September 28, 2018, the Committee held a vote to nominate Judge Kavanaugh to a full vote before the US Senate. GOP leaders have said the full vote would take place Monday, October 1, 2018. Republican Senator Jeff Blake called for a one-week FBI investigation into the sexual assault charges. “I will vote to advance the bill to the floor with that understanding,” Flake said.
Shortly after the vote concluded, Senator John Cornyn confirmed that the Judiciary Committee will ask President Trump for an FBI Probe and wants it completed between October 1-5, 2018.
The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court is continuing and updates will be provided as they become available.