Watch Live: Senate Judiciary Committee Votes On Kavanaugh; Panel Spars Over Accusations
The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Friday at 9:30 a.m. on President Trump's pick for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh - one day after riveting testimony from both Kavanugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford.
Update 11:15 a.m. The panel is going back and forth over Ford's allegations, with Democrats continuing to insist a more thorough investigation, and GOP members pushing back. Sen. Graham: "Six FBI investigations and we missed the sophomore junior gang rapist? We didn't miss it. It's a bunch of garbage."
Update 10:45 a.m. Several Democratic Senators briefly walked out of the chamber in protest. Kamala Harris of California, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Patrick Leahy of Vermont all left the room, along with staff for New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. Whitehouse and Leahy have returned.
Some Democratic senators walk out of the hearing room as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley speaks about yesterday's testimony. abcn.ws/2DExVvn
Update 10:00 a.m. The committee has approved a motion to vote on Kavanaugh for 1:30 p.m. EST by a margin of 11-8. Booker and Harris declined to vote in protest.
Update 9:43 a.m. The proceedings have begun with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) insisting that the panel subpoena Mark Judge, the other boy Ford claims was in the room. Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley responded by reading a signed letter from Judge, declaring that he has no knowledge of the indicent from 36 years ago. The committee voted not to subpoena Judge.
Ford claimed that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her while at a high school party, while Kavanaugh responded with a vehement and categorical denial in an emotional statement.
Senate Republicans are seeking to push Kavanugh through to confirmation on Friday, while the Democrats stood by Ford and are insisting that the confirmation be stopped or delayed until a "full investigation" can be conducted.
Friday morning, Politico reported that the Senate panel had been advised by Rachel Mitchell, the attorney who represented the GOP members, that as a prosecutor "she would not charge Kavanaugh or even pursue a search warrant."
"Rachel Mitchell, a lawyer who was retained by the Senate GOP to question Ford, broke down her analysis of the testimony to Republicans, but did not advise them how to vote. She told them that as a prosecutor she would not charge Kavanaugh or even pursue a search warrant, according to a person briefed on the meeting." -Politico
#RachelMitchell told Republican senators in a members mtg last night that she wouldn't charge #Kavanaugh. People briefed on the mtg said Mitchell was very clear with senators that based on evidence presented, she couldn't bring the case "anywhere near a court room."
Last night, Townhall reported that Kavanaugh has the votes to make it out of committee and will be confirmed on the floor for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, according to a Senate insider.
Sens. Flake (R-AZ), Collins (R-ME), Murkowski (R-AK), and Manchin (D-WV) are expected to vote in favor of Kavanaugh. All the Republicans are voting yes. Also, in the rumor mill, several Democrats may break ranks and back Kavanaugh. That’s the ball game, folks. -Townhall
Speaking with reporters, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says he thinks "all of America" thought Ford's testimony was compelling, while President Trump tweeted on Thursday night: "Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting."
FULL INTERVIEW: @PressSec Sarah Sanders on Kavanaugh testimony: "This could have been done differently." gma.abc/2N8m3REg
White House adviser Kellyanne Conway, meanwhile, told CBS This Morning said that Kavanaugh will call "balls and strikes" fairly, as he has done for more than a decade. She noted that Ford's testimony was "very compelling and very sympathetic," and that Ford "was wronged by somebody," but that it wasn't Kavanaugh.
"It seems that she absolutely was wronged by somebody … it may turn out that they're both right," she said. "That she was sexually assaulted but that he had nothing to do with it."
Stay tuned for updates throughout Friday's vote.
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