by Ruby Henley
Today is another shocking battle as some Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee battle with the Democrats over their request for a FBI investigation into the accusation against Brett Kavnaugh by Christine Blasey Ford.
Chairman Chuck Grassley released the request from the committee that President Trump “instruct the FBI” to conduct the investigation, which would be “limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today.”
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake stepped up and said he’d only be “comfortable” moving ahead on the floor if the FBI investigates accusations made against Judge Kavanaugh by Ford. In my opinion, one week is a joke, as more accusations keep coming in on Judge Kavanaugh. Flake was pulled aside by some Democrats, and they convinced him to speak up and ask for an investigation – and he did.
I support Sen. Flake’s call for a non-partisan FBI investigation into the allegations about Judge Kavanaugh – which I’ve been pressing for. We need to get politics out of this process and allow an independent law enforcement agency to do its job.
— Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (@SenatorHeitkamp) September 28, 2018
Senator Grassley was put in a difficult place, and there is no doubt he is the man who should be sitting in the Chairman’s seat. I trust him and Lindsey Graham, so I am hoping for the best and the survival of our democracy. Grassley did everything he could, and he ended up calling an end to the meeting as I am sure he had had enough.
QUOTE – The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed Judge Brett Kavanaugh in a party-line vote on Friday afternoon. That sent his Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate a day after an emotional hearing in which a California professor leveled sexual assault allegations – allegations that Kavanaugh emphatically denied.
The committee voted 11-10 to recommend Kavanaugh, with previously undecided GOP Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona supporting him. However, that support came with a last-minute caveat that holds major implications for a final vote.
After meeting with Democrats behind closed doors, Flake, who earlier in the day announced he would endorse the nominee, emerged to call for a delay in a full floor vote to allow for an FBI investigation “limited in time and scope.” While backing Kavanaugh at the committee level, Flake said he’d only be “comfortable” moving ahead on the floor if the FBI investigates further.
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) requests an FBI investigation into allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh before the Senate votes on his confirmation.
QUOTE –
Democrats claimed something of a victory on Friday when Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican on the Judiciary Committee, called for an FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar said on Friday that her Republican colleague’s apparent about-face “was kind of a surprise to all of us.”
“You can do a lot if you have the whole FBI looking at things for one week,” Klobuchar said Friday, adding that Flake believes the process will help lessen the deep partisan divides over Kavanaugh, who is the least popular Supreme Court nominee in decades.
Flake’s Republican colleagues told reporters that they respect Flake’s decision, but don’t believe the investigation will imperil his vote in favor of Kavanaugh’s nomination.
“This is Jeff Flake, this is what I like about the guy,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who delivered one of the most impassioned defenses of Kavanaugh during Thursday’s hearings, adding that he doesn’t think the investigation will uncover any new evidence.
It is now up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to ask President Donald Trump to direct the FBI to reopen its background investigation into Kavanaugh.
END OF QUOTE
In conclusion, President Trump said he was turning it over to the Senate, but he supported Judge Kavanaugh.