FBI probe delays Senate’s Kavanaugh nomination to supreme court

The vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee took place Friday on partisan lines (11 Republicans for, 10 against) after Republican Sen Jeff Flake was persuaded by the Democrats to call for a delay of no more than one week before the full Senate vote for confirming Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee, to the Supreme Court. This delay was called to allow the FBI to investigate the sexual assault allegations Christine Blasey Ford brought against Kavanaugh when they were in high school, which Kavanaugh unequivocally denied. The Senate vote was to have taken place next Tuesday. Trump commented on the senators’ decision by saying: “Whatever they think is necessary. “ He later ordered the FBI to investigate Ford’s allegation and gave the federal agency a week to complete its probe.