Posted on 09/28/2018 5:32:41 PM PDT by Kaslin
Today was supposed to be simple. The Senate Judiciary Committee was set to vote on advancing the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Senate floor. It was going to be a party-line vote. It was going to be dotted with Democrats once again whining about the process. They also want an FBI investigation to look into the sexual misconduct allegations lobbed against Kavanaugh. One of the women, Christine Blasey Ford, testified before Congress yesterday in an intense day of testimony. Judge Kavanaugh addressed the committee in the afternoon, in a fiery speech defending his name, reputation, and career. He stringently denies the allegations; Ford alleges Kavanaugh tried to rape her at a high school party.
Yes, the committee voted to advance the nomination, but not before Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) decided to take the role of Benedict Arnold, suggesting a delay in the final vote in order to have the FBI investigate these claims. It’s on a weeklong timetable. Sens. Murkowski (R-AK), Collins (R-ME), and Manchin (R-WV) all jumped onboard. The White House, now forced into a corner, has ordered the FBI to conduct an investigation. It’s the wrong move. Flake decided to give this left wing smear campaign another week of oxygen, allowing more time for last minute shenanigans to possibly occur. We know when the FBI submits their preliminary report, the Democrats will demand more time. There is nothing that will ever make them change their minds about this man. It’s delay, delay, and delay. That’s the derail Kavanaugh playbooks the Democrats are deploying. And to no one’s surprise, Ford’s legal team rejects the “artificial limits” (via Fox News):
A note on what the FBI can and can't do: This isn't a criminal investigation, no grand jury, so they can't subpoena records or force anyone to testify.— Shannon Pettypiece (@spettypi) September 28, 2018
So basically, they can do less than Senate investigators who have already done much investigating https://t.co/6MgYoQLA4S— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) September 28, 2018
Gosh, nobody could see that coming. https://t.co/gGrEmHrV1R— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) September 28, 201
President Trump on Friday ordered the FBI to conduct a limited "supplemental" background investigation into the allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delayed plans for votes but said Republicans are still moving "forward."
“I’ve ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh’s file," Trump said in a statement. "As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.”
Trump's order came after after several undecided senators whose votes are needed to confirm Kavanaugh called for a weeklong FBI probe before a floor vote.
[…]
An attorney for Kavanaugh accuser Christine Ford, Debra S. Katz, said in a statement Friday that Ford “welcomes this step in the process.” But Katz took issue with the one-week limit, saying no “artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation."
When asked if they could get the investigation done in a week, a senior FBI official told Fox News, "That depends on the schedules of everyone we'd have to interview, including the accuser, accused and witnesses.”
Ford has named three other people she said attended the 1982 party where she claims she was assaulted. All three named people have said they have no memory of the event, though two said Friday they’re willing to cooperate with the FBI.
“I will cooperate with any law enforcement agency that is assigned to confidentially investigate these allegations,” Kavanaugh friend Mark Judge said.
“My client, Patrick J. Smyth, is happy to cooperate fully with this FBI investigation,” said attorney Eric B. Bruce.
Brett Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified and most impressive Supreme Court nominees in memory. This is a nomination that deserves to move forward -- and that is precisely what is happening.— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) September 28, 2018
In the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the nomination is moving forward—and all 51 Republicans have agreed to that end. Also, this FBI investigation is not a criminal one, meaning they can’t force people to testify or subpoena records. In other words, it’s all part of the delay tactic deployed against this Supreme Court nomination. It’s now a street fight. It’s open warfare—and it seems clear that the GOP was not ready to get this deep into the muck when it came to fighting Democrats. It’s going to be another intense and nasty seven-to-ten days. Brace yourselves.
.@senatemajldr McConnell makes remarks about the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. https://t.co/zmDxBlM8BQ https://t.co/s4wLcQZ8uv— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 28, 2018
.@senatemajldr on Kavanaugh nomination: "I'm pleased to announce that all 51 Republican members of the Senate support the motion to proceed to the nomination." https://t.co/uq3iT4EgsV pic.twitter.com/K9sU6wrcex— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 28, 2018
.@senatemajldr on Kavanaugh hearing: "The picture that diverged from all of this is clear: Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified and most impressive Supreme Court nominees in the history of our country." https://t.co/uq3iT4EgsV pic.twitter.com/MZ3KdjouAD— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 28, 2018
Here are Leader McConnell's remarks [emphasis mine]:
“For the information of all our colleagues, there were two very significant developments today. This morning, the Judiciary Committee reported out Judge Kavanaugh favorably. All eleven Republican members of the Judiciary Committee voted in favor of reporting him out with a favorable recommendation. Number two, we will shortly move to proceed to the Kavanaugh nomination. And I’m pleased to announce that all 51 republican members of the Senate support the motion to proceed to the nomination. One hundred percent of the Republican conference supports proceeding to the Kavanaugh nomination.
“Now in Committee, they reviewed the most pages of documents ever produced pertaining to any Supreme Court nomination. Literally hundreds of judicial opinions from his tenure on the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. And five days of hearings, during which Judge Kavanaugh testified for nearly 40 hours. Judge Kavanaugh testified on every topic from complicated legal subjects to sensitive personal matters. And there were testimony and statements from countless personal friends, classmates, coworkers, former clerks, and other associates.
“So the picture that emerged from all this is clear: Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most qualified and most impressive Supreme Court nominees in the history of our country. He has excelled at the highest levels of legal scholarship. He holds two degrees from Yale, and for years has lectured at Harvard Law School. He has issued more than 300 legal opinions from what is widely considered the second highest court in the nation. Several have subsequently been cited in the Supreme Court’s own majority opinions. Along the way, he has built an outstanding reputation within the legal community for his clear, thoughtful writing and his exemplary, fair-minded judicial temperament.
“Judge Kavanaugh’s qualifications have been affirmed by his peers and by renowned legal scholars from across the ideological spectrum. One self-described liberal Democrat who advised him at Yale said that Judge Kavanaugh, quote, ‘commands wide and deep respect among scholars, lawyers, and jurists.’ And this praise has been echoed by hundreds of character witnesses who have testified before the Senate or written us letters to praise Judge Kavanaugh’s personal character and his integrity in the strongest terms.
“The Committee has also thoroughly investigated the last-minute allegations that have been brought forward. The evidence that has been produced either fails -- fails -- to corroborate these accusations, or in fact supports Judge Kavanaugh’s unequivocal denial. And in some cases, the accusers have even recanted their baseless allegations. All in all, this is a nominee who has received what many consider the ‘gold standard’ of judicial qualification -- a rating of ‘unanimously well qualified’ from the American Bar Association.
“So, this is a nomination that deserves to move forward -- and that is precisely what is happening. I commend our colleagues on the Committee for sending this impressive nominee here to the floor with a favorable recommendation. Now we will keep the process moving: The full Senate will begin considering Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination today.”
On January 1, 2020, they can invoke the Biden Rule -- no Supreme Court confirmations during a presidential election year.
That's a mere 15 months away. Lots of time for we working people. But by the Congressional work calendar, not all that much....
They’re going to force a couple million people to visit DC.
On January 1, 2020, they can invoke the Biden Rule — no Supreme Court confirmations during a presidential election year.
That’s a mere 15 months away. Lots of time for we working people. But by the Congressional work calendar, not all that much....
Exactly. The delay is not just delaying the vote. It’s delaying the MAGA agenda and that is probably why McConnell doesn’t mind this circus.
I think a “motion to procedure” would be a step before a vote. Maybe that just means debate starts.
For such a (fraud) mousy type of woman, she sure is pushy. It’s like a tantrum- she is entitled and must feel important, she’s not ready to be forgotten! Not ready to be yesterday’s news. She won’t feel special until I hold the country hostage for weeks. Me me me me.
Sorry Ford, don’t you know they used you and will spit you out. Buhbye.
no “artificial limits as to TIME OR SCOPE should be imposed on this investigation.”
This means they are going to add other stuff to the investigation. Katz is letting them know that it may not just be about Ford and or Ramirez but something else and they will need more than a week to expand their scope.
The Republicans think they are doing a good thing but they are not playing with choir boys. Just watch
Seriously!! She acts like this is her appointment!
Will we ever hear calls for the arrest of ALL of these traitors?
They have obtained a weeks delay maybe. FBI report “The accuser has declined to cooperate therefor our investigation is closed.”
I think they may not be retarded.
They didn’t have the votes. They can’t control the Democrats, who don’t want to cave on this. Flake’s deal enabled the vote out of the committee.
I think the game here is chicken. One side needs to capitulate. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is getting sick of this. This week is a great time for some professional polling to be done on this, and even the Democrats, I am sure, want to know how this is going over with the Voters. The Dems are certainly retards, but even they are going to see what this is costing them. The more it drags on, the more it costs them.
That is what is going to make the stupid Dems finally blink.
I agree that we need to get out and vote (holding our noses) for GOPe’s. But let’s be realistic. We did this the last go round, and what’s changed? We’re being used like cat litter. Just how much of this are we going to fall for?
We want to see her medical records....
Make this a mantra.
I don’t think the President has any authority to tell the Senate what it must do.
You must not have watched the proceedings.
You must not have watched the proceedings.
Grassley got the name to the floor. That was about it. But it was his main job.
Things I thought eh should have done.
He let the gallery interrupt to much in light of repots the disrupts were paid. He should have closed the hearing the second day.
He delayed the hearing when he should have gone ahead the week before.
The attorney from AZ was bad pick. Don’t know if Grassley chose her,.
FBI investigation will probably center on when the Russians directed president Trump to nominate kavanaugh. This is so much garbage
The irony: since January 20, 2017, the DoJ/FBI -- and the entire Democrat party! -- doesn't think the POTUS has any authority to tell the DoJ/FBI what to do.
Now they all want President Trump to order an FBI investigation! LMAO.
Nonsense but typical of those ready to surrender.
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