Kavanaugh steps away from being confirmed as US Supreme Court judge

Senator Collins of ME, after announcing her decision, faced an immediate backlash, with donations pouring in to a website to support a rival. Joe Manchin told reporters he would vote to confirm him.

And I should say that the White House really coached Brett Kavanaugh for hours and hours and hours, first about his initial testimony, and then when he had to go back a second time.

The Republican-controlled Senate is set for a final vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination on Saturday, which could put Kavanaugh on the court as early as next week.

Manchin used an emailed statement to announce his support for Kavanaugh moments after Collins finished affirming hers.

The final Senate vote on the Supreme Court nominee is likely to be held Saturday.

President Barack Obama’s former National Security Adviser Susan Rice has already indicated she wants to run against Collins, although she later added, “many thanks for the encourgement (sic)”.

This would bring Republicans to a 51-49 victory, assuming no lawmaker takes the unlikely step of switching positions after Friday’s vote. If the vote somehow becomes 50-50 on Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence would break the tie in favor of Kavanaugh. “And where is the respect?” she said.

He forcefully denied the allegations.

“I believe we’re dealing with issues right now that are bigger than the nominee and how we ensure fairness and how our legislative and judicial branch can continue to be respected”, she said, choosing her words carefully, her voice filled with emotion.

It is a triumph for conservative groups, some of which spent millions to support Judge Kavanaugh and this past week defend him against accusations of sexual assault in his high school days.

Flake, who is not running for re-election, frustrated his fellow Republicans last week by forcing the GOP leadership to agree to an FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) withheld the allegations against Kavanaugh for eight weeks until after the confirmation hearings were completed.

President Trump watched very closely as all this drama played out on the Hill.

On Friday evening, Sen.

Mr Trump praised the Senate, tweeting: “Very proud of the U.S. Senate for voting “YES” to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh!“. “It will not change the outcome of the vote” Murkowski said on the Senate floor on Friday night. Like so many Americans, I am deeply disappointed in Senator Collins’ vote for Kavanaugh.

Federal agents are believed to have spoken to five witnesses regarding Prof Ford’s accusations and another four other witnesses involving a separate accusation by Deborah Ramirez, who said the nominee had exposed himself to her when they were both at Yale University. “Man. Man. He was gone so fast, O.K.?” he said to the crowd.

“I did not come to a decision on this until walking into the floor this morning”.

In an interview with Breitbart News Saturday, Maine Republican Chairwoman Demi Kouzounas told host Matthew Boyle that Collins and her staff had been physically threatened, sent vulgar messages, and had freaky things sent to them in the mail.

Manchin, like Collins, also has split with his party from time to time.

Democratic senators leapt over one another in attempting to vilify Kavanaugh in those hearings.

Democrats have said Republican gerrymandering has helped Trump’s party keep control of the US House of Representatives and various state legislatures.