Kavanaugh nomination in limbo
Just days ago, the president and Senate Republicans believed Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh would be confirmed by the Judiciary Committee and narrowly clear the full Senate by next week.
But by Tuesday, no one in Washington seemed certain of anything about the nomination, including whether Kavanaugh would appear before senators on Monday to deny allegations of sexual assault, or whether Christine Blasey Ford, the woman leveling the accusations, will testify.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) canceled his panel’s scheduled Thursday vote, and said a Monday hearing, bringing Kavanaugh back to answer questions, would take place whether Ford chooses to appear or not (The Hill).
Debate erupted about who would pose the questions next week, whether there would be other witnesses, and whether an investigation by either the FBI or another independent entity would take place. The president said the bureau doesn’t have a role in the circumstances now facing senators (The Hill). Ford wrote to Grassley on Tuesday calling for an FBI inquiry (CNN).
“We offered her a public or a private hearing as well as staff-led interviews, whichever makes her most comfortable,” Grassley said in a statement Tuesday night. “The invitation for Monday still stands. Dr. Ford’s testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.”
The president and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) were unequivocal on Tuesday in supporting Kavanaugh, and they expressed that resolve without publicly appearing to judge Ford’s veracity.
The president described his take on Democrats’ motives.
Senate Republicans rejected the idea that the appellate court judge would withdraw his nomination under pressure, or that Trump might decide that too many political landmines too close to the midterm elections mean it might be time for another nominee (The Hill). The most forceful advocate for that idea was a Democrat, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a former Connecticut prosecutor and a Judiciary Committee member (The Hill).
But in many ways, Kavanaugh is on shaky ground, even as the Senate GOP leaders plow ahead with his nomination. Ford’s sexual assault allegation dating back 36 years begins to subtract from the population of potential swing voters and suburban women voters so important to Republican candidates this fall.
The uncertainties surrounding the nomination forced Senate Republicans to remain officially undecided about Kavanaugh until both he and Ford answer questions (The Hill). With a 51-49 Senate majority, Republicans face the delicacy of math. The nomination hinges on GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine) and Jeff Flake (Ariz.).
