Trump Defers To Senate On Flake's Request For Delay, FBI Probe

<p>Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, threw a wrench Friday in Republicans' plans to push Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh through to confirmation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Friday, September 28th 2018, 3:57 pm

By: News 9


Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, threw a wrench Friday in Republicans' plans to push Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh through to confirmation. 

Flake issued a statement Friday morning saying he will support Kavanaugh's confirmation, emboldening Republicans. But then, Friday afternoon as the Senate Judiciary Committee was set to vote, Flake said he wants to delay the Senate floor vote for up to a week so the FBI can investigate. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, another key GOP vote who hasn't announced where she stands on Kavanaugh, also voiced support for Flake's proposal, as did Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia. 

Kavanaugh advanced from the committee with an 11-8 vote, but if he lacks votes on the floor, Republican leadership won't want to push the vote through.  

This 11th-hour shift comes one day after Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, offered their emotional, riveting testimony on Capitol Hill Thursday. Ford insisted she is "100 percent" sure Kavanaugh assaulted her when they were both in high school, and Kavanaugh insisted he his completely innocent. 

Follow along for live updates as they develop. 

Trump open to delay in Kavanaugh vote 

President Trump, seated with Chile's president, was asked for his response to Flake's request. Mr. Trump said he's leaving everything up to the Senate. 

"I'm gonna rely on all of the people, including Senator Grassley, who's doing a very good job," Mr. Trump said "That'll be a decision that they're going to make, and I suspect they'll be making some decision soon, whether to take a vote or to do whatever else they want to do. I will be totally reliant on what Senator Grassley and the group decides to do."

The president added that he found Ford to be a "credible" witness," and called her a "fine" woman. 

What is the two-hour rule?

Grassley concluded the meeting by invoking the "two-hour rule," which elicited a shocked and frustrated response from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the committee. So, what is the two-hour rule?

Buried in the Senate rules, the "two-hour-rule" or Senate Rule XXVI, restricts the times that most committees can meet when the Senate is in session. It's aimed to help balance the committee's work and logistics — but of course, can also be used the convenience of a committee chairman. 

Committee advances Kavanaugh nomination to the floor

Despite Flake's request, the committee — with Flake's support — approved Kavanaugh's nomination to move along to the full Senate. 

Flake calls for "delay" in floor vote to allow FBI to investigate Kavanaugh allegations

Flake, after speaking with senators outside the hearing and delaying an afternoon Senate Judiciary Committee vote, threw a wrench in Republicans' plans when he called for a "delay" on the floor vote in order to allow the FBI to investigate the allegations. It's unclear exactly what happens next, as Kavanaugh has the votes in committee to pass. 

Senators speak passionately about Kavanaugh's confirmation

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move its vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation until 1:30 p.m. on Friday. Several Democrats left the room while Republicans spoke afterwards.

Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii talked to reporters outside the hearing room and accused the majority of ramming through Kavanaugh's nomination, and they continued to insist that the FBI investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh. 

Speaking before the committee, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham -- a staunch Kavanaugh supporter -- reasserted his support for the judge and his condemnation of his Democratic colleagues.

"I'm a single white male from South Carolina, and I'm told I should just shut up, but I will not shut up," Graham said. He also fired a warning shot to Democrats. "If I am chairman next year ... I'm going to remember this. There's the process before Kavanaugh, and the process after Kavanaugh."

Meanwhile, protesters confronted Flake in front of the Senate elevators, preventing him from leaving for several minutes.

"You're telling all women that they don't matter, that they should just stay quiet, because if they tell you what happened to them, you're going to ignore them," a protester said, as Flake looks down.

American Bar Association urges committee to slow down process 

The American Bar Association has urged the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate to slow down the confirmation process for President Trump's Supreme Court pick, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, until the FBI has time to do a full background check on the claims made by Ford and other women.

During hours of emotional testimony before the committee on Thursday, Kavanaugh vehemently denied ever having sexually assaulted Ford or anyone else, and cited as evidence his multiple background checks and clearances by the ABA during various stages of his career at the highest level of the U.S. judiciary system.

Sarah Sanders: All of America thought Ford's testimony was compelling

Sarah Sanders, speaking to reporters Friday morning, said she thinks "all of America" though Ford's testimony was compelling, although she wouldn't specifically say whether Mr. Trump thought her testimony was compelling. 

Sanders said Ford was wronged by someone, "but not at the hands of Judge Kavanaugh." 

Sanders also blasted how Democrats handled the allegation against Kavanaugh initially.

Kellyanne Conway says Kavanaugh will call "balls and strikes" fairly 

Top White House officials took to television Friday morning to defend Kavanaugh and urge his swift confirmation to the highest court. Kellyanne Conway, appearing on "CBS This Morning," was pressed how Kavanaugh could be a neutral figure on the court when he berated the accusations against him as political.

Conway claimed that once Kavanaugh is on the court, "he will call the balls and strikes" fairly, as he has for more than a decade. 

Conway said she did find Ford "very compelling and very sympathetic," adding that she believes Ford "was wronged by somebody." But Kavanaugh, she said, was not that somebody.

"It seems that she absolutely was wronged by somebody … it may turn out that they're both right," she said. "That she was sexually assaulted but that he had nothing to do with it."

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What is the two-hour rule?

Grassley concluded the meeting by invoking the "two-hour rule," which elicited a shocked and frustrated response from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the committee. So, what is the two-hour rule?

Buried in the Senate rules, the "two-hour-rule" or Senate Rule XXVI, restricts the times that most committees can meet when the Senate is in session. It's aimed to help balance the committee's work and logistics — but of course, can also be used the convenience of a committee chairman. 

Committee advances Kavanaugh nomination to the floor

Despite Flake's request, the committee — with Flake's support — approved Kavanaugh's nomination to move along to the full Senate. 

Flake calls for "delay" in floor vote to allow FBI to investigate Kavanaugh allegations

Flake, after speaking with senators outside the hearing and delaying an afternoon Senate Judiciary Committee vote, threw a wrench in Republicans' plans when he called for a "delay" on the floor vote in order to allow the FBI to investigate the allegations. It's unclear exactly what happens next, as Kavanaugh has the votes in committee to pass. 

Senators speak passionately about Kavanaugh's confirmation

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move its vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation until 1:30 p.m. on Friday. Several Democrats left the room while Republicans spoke afterwards.

Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii talked to reporters outside the hearing room and accused the majority of ramming through Kavanaugh's nomination, and they continued to insist that the FBI investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh. 

Speaking before the committee, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham -- a staunch Kavanaugh supporter -- reasserted his support for the judge and his condemnation of his Democratic colleagues.

"I'm a single white male from South Carolina, and I'm told I should just shut up, but I will not shut up," Graham said. He also fired a warning shot to Democrats. "If I am chairman next year ... I'm going to remember this. There's the process before Kavanaugh, and the process after Kavanaugh."

Meanwhile, protesters confronted Flake in front of the Senate elevators, preventing him from leaving for several minutes.

"You're telling all women that they don't matter, that they should just stay quiet, because if they tell you what happened to them, you're going to ignore them," a protester said, as Flake looks down.

VIDEO: Senator Flake was confronted by protesters who held the elevator door open for 4 minutes right after he announced that he was a “Yes” on Kavanaugh. pic.twitter.com/PCPUDRrwnd

— Alan He (@alanhe) September 28, 2018

American Bar Association urges committee to slow down process 

The American Bar Association has urged the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate to slow down the confirmation process for President Trump's Supreme Court pick, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, until the FBI has time to do a full background check on the claims made by Ford and other women.

During hours of emotional testimony before the committee on Thursday, Kavanaugh vehemently denied ever having sexually assaulted Ford or anyone else, and cited as evidence his multiple background checks and clearances by the ABA during various stages of his career at the highest level of the U.S. judiciary system.

Sarah Sanders: All of America thought Ford's testimony was compelling

Sarah Sanders, speaking to reporters Friday morning, said she thinks "all of America" though Ford's testimony was compelling, although she wouldn't specifically say whether Mr. Trump thought her testimony was compelling. 

Sanders said Ford was wronged by someone, "but not at the hands of Judge Kavanaugh." 

Sanders also blasted how Democrats handled the allegation against Kavanaugh initially.

Kellyanne Conway says Kavanaugh will call "balls and strikes" fairly 

Top White House officials took to television Friday morning to defend Kavanaugh and urge his swift confirmation to the highest court. Kellyanne Conway, appearing on "CBS This Morning," was pressed how Kavanaugh could be a neutral figure on the court when he berated the accusations against him as political.

Conway claimed that once Kavanaugh is on the court, "he will call the balls and strikes" fairly, as he has for more than a decade. 

Conway said she did find Ford "very compelling and very sympathetic," adding that she believes Ford "was wronged by somebody." But Kavanaugh, she said, was not that somebody.

"It seems that she absolutely was wronged by somebody … it may turn out that they're both right," she said. "That she was sexually assaulted but that he had nothing to do with it."

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

","published":"2018-09-28T20:57:50.000Z","updated":"2018-09-28T21:01:48.000Z","summary":"

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, threw a wrench Friday in Republicans' plans to push Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh through to confirmation.  

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