Kavanaugh’s nomination: What happens now?
After the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, the Judiciary Committee has approved the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to go to the floor of the Senate. So, what…
The pressure of the Republicans to get Brett Kavanaugh a seat on the Supreme Court has made these last hours chaos amid declarations, accusations and radical bipartisanship.
The testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford on Thursday moved the whole country when she proved to be a strong witness to the inappropriate sexual behavior of President Trump's nominee to be the next Supreme Court justice.
However, the subsequent testimony of Kavanaugh demonstrated not only the divide between the two parties in the Senate but also the aggressive and prejudiced nature of the man who may soon have a fundamental vote in the most important legislative decisions facing the country for the rest of his life.
Despite forceful Democratic opposition - and the burgeoning anger of activists at the door of the meeting - Republicans managed to get 11 votes to send Kavanaugh's nomination to the floor of the Senate "with a favorable recommendation," according to the New York Times.
Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona granted the fundamental vote after announcing on Friday morning that he approved Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation. However, a confrontation with protesters in the building made him reconsider his position and said that "he will not support a final confirmation until the FBI conducts an investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse against the judge."
According to TIME, the GOP hasn’t yet guaranteed the 50 votes needed for Kavanaugh to be confirmed since "a small group of senators" remains undecided.
Among those who will decide the final result in addition to Flake himself are Senators Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Bob Corker (Tennessee), Joe Manchin (West Virginia), Joe Donnelly (Indiana), Jon Tester (Montana), and Heidi Heitkamp (North Dakota).
The matter could still go further.
Immediately after the closing of the committee session, five Democratic members stated their willingness "to investigate the Supreme Court nominee."
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Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) told the Huffington Post that they would also join the initiative to determine "who committed perjury under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee" headed by representatives Ted. Lieu (D-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Jerry Nadler (DN.Y.).
As the report explains, "Democrats have a strong chance of retaking the House majority in the November elections, meaning they would have the power to push forward on an investigation - which could even lead to impeachment (against Kavanaugh)."
Regrettably, it seems that the efforts of the Democrats have come too late.
Kavanaugh's behavior during his testimony - between outbursts of anger, tears and hesitant responses - was a perfect setting for an organized Democratic bloc to collapse his arguments.
According to Slate, the Democrats could have been more "strategic" when interviewing Kavanaugh, allowing a more "coordinated" questioning and "concentrating on an area where Kavanaugh's credibility is dubious."
But none of that happened, and Kavanaugh is going straight to his seat in the Supreme Court.
The only thing that could change the scenario now would be the result of an improvised and expedited investigation by the FB. which, as the Republicans affirmed well during the hearing, "does not elaborate conclusions.”
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