You just know they have been using this delay to whip up another accuser.
Chad Pergram
@ChadPergram
https://twitter.com/ChadPergram/status/1043953840188477441
Senate Judiciary Cmte GOPers: Chairman Grassley has also postponed the committee’s vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination previously scheduled for Monday.
Judiciary Cmte GOPers to Ford team: Thank you for the call. We are pleased that you accepted the Chairman’s invitation for Dr. Ford to testify on Thursday, 9/27/2018 at 10 am in an open hearing in Dirksen 226, in accordance with the parameters that we outlined in our emails below
Judiciary Cmte to Ford counsel: The Chairman asked me to relay again that he will do everything in his power to provide a safe, comfortable, and dignified forum for Dr. Ford to testify. I have noted the issues that you raised on the call.
Judiciary Cmte to Ford team: The Committee determines which witnesses to call, how many witnesses to call, in what order to call them, and who will question them. These are non-negotiable.
Schumer/Feinstein to Trump: Contrary to your assertions, conducting background investigations on nominees has long been the FBI’s standard practice, and it is common for such background investigations to be reopened where new information about a nominee becomes known.
Schumer/Feinstein to Trump: There is no legitimate basis for you to continue blocking the FBI from investigating this important matter. We..request..you adhere to precedent and direct the FBI 2 immediately & thoroughly investigate..Ford’s allegations & provide a rpt 2 the Senate
Schumer/Feinstein to Trump: It is not the FBI’s job to determine credibility, but it is the FBI’s job to gather facts. Regrettably, however, the FBI has thus far failed to act.
With the Ford hrng on Thurs now, the EARLIEST the cmte could hold vote is Friday. That said, senators may ask for some additional time to process what was said at the Thursday hearing..or there could be additional issues raised at the hearing which could require even more time
1) Here’s a hypothetical scenario, of how long it would take to have a confirmation vote on Kavanaugh. This is predicated on the idea of a Thursday hearing and a prospective Friday committee vote and just for the purposes of establishing a possible timeline..
2) Let’s say the cmte votes on Kavanaugh Fri. McConnell would prep what’s called a “cloture petition” to end debate on the nomination. But McConnell can’t file the cloture petition until the next day. Granted, that’s Saturday. So, this could drift into next week
3) After McConnell files the cloture petition to end debate on Kavanaugh..efforts to limit debate & overcome a filibuster must lay over for 1 day b4 the procedural vote. So, if cloture is filed on Sat, the layover day is Sun The vote to halt the filibuster would be Monday, Oct 1
4) Under current Senate precedent to break a filibuster on Supreme Court nominees, 51 senators must vote to end debate.
5) If the Senate votes to end debate on Kavanaugh nomination & opponents of the nomination use all time afforded them under Senate rules, the actual confirmation vote may happen until later in the day on Tuesday, October 2.
6) This scenario on Kavanaugh could all slide by a couple of days if they don’t take an immediate committee vote late this week..and if there is no move by McConnell to expedite the process to use next weekend to his advantage.
7) Politically, McConnell may actually put this on a slower track. That’s because some GOP sens senstors may say they need more time to make a decision on Kavanaugh. The Senate is divided 51-49 in favor of the GOP. McConnell won’t move the nomination if they lack the votes
8) On Kavanaugh nomination: Senate math is paramount. Senate is 51-49 in favor of GOP. This is tight. Kavanaugh can only lose 1 GOPers & hope to be confirmed by on a tie-breaker vote by Pence. Lose 2 GOPers & Dems stick together, & the nomination is toast.