Senator Jeff Flake’s demand that another FBI investigation of Brett Kavanaugh be conducted will delay Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court by at least a week.
Flake, a vocal opponent of President Trump who has openly sided with and donated to Democrats, has previously signaled he would vote yes.
Flake did vote to move Kavanaugh’s nomination out of the judiciary committee and to the full Senate.
According to Arizona Central:
“Sen. Jeff Flake sided with Senate Democrats Friday to try to force a one-week FBI investigation of the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Flake agreed to send Kavanaugh’s nomination to the full Senate, but would not support a floor vote for Kavanaugh without allowing the investigation to happen. With Flake’s help, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines 11-10 to send Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Senate as a whole.
The Arizona Republican had indicated earlier in the day his support for the judge, but pushed the nomination in a new direction after meeting privately at length with U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, who is a member of the committee and a close personal friend.
“This country is being ripped apart here,” Flake said. “I do think we can have a short pause and have the FBI investigate. … It would be short and limited in scope to the current allegations here.”
President Donald Trump signaled he was open to a delay. Senators should do “whatever they think is necessary” to get to a vote on Kavanaugh, Trump told reporters before meeting with President Sebastian Pinera of Chile.”
