I think that Senator Flake may have given the GOP majority a tremendous opportunity to button up some matters regarding the Election campaign the next 5-6 weeks as it relates to this Supreme Court nomination advice/consent process.
Flake said “[Democrats will not be able to] complain that a FBI investigation has not occurred”. Just think how that will resonate for voters in Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, Indiana, Missouri, Florida, and maybe other places this next month if their Senator votes NO after an FBI investigation shows nothing material.
If a short FBI investigation did come up with something material then of course I wouldn’t want Kavanaugh to be confirmed and he’d be forced to withdraw. Most likely though, with little doubt, if there was something material then it would’ve come out yesterday.
I don’t think Dianne Feinstein really understood that when the gavel dropped to end today’s meeting that Grassley/Flake had checkmated her. The process is no longer in her arena. Its now up to McConnell who controls the Senate schedule to wrap this up.
Now is McConnell’s chance to finish this process right with flying colors.
If I were Kavanaugh (and/or White House team + his allies) I’d go over everything he said at the hearing yesterday to ensure its completely accurate. People in committees’ meetings are granted the fair courtesy to revise and extend their remarks for several days afterwards to ensure its fully accurate.
“Flake said “[Democrats will not be able to] complain that a FBI investigation has not occurred”.”
Yeah, for these three allegations. What about the nine more that will come out next week?
Vote on Kavanaugh Monday or not at all. There is no later for this man.
Of course the “FBI Investigation extension” needs to have its scope limited to just the specific allegations raised verbally in yesterday’s hearing and have a cutoff limit of exactly one week after the gavel came down in today’s meeting.