Senators Flake and Murkowski Add Surprise Last-Minute Twist to Delay Final Kavanaugh Vote

Benjamin Gill : Sep 28, 2018
CBN News

Kavanaugh's nomination was in question because Flake, one of the key swing votes on the committee, hadn't been clearly supporting the nominee. But then Flake had released this statement: "What I do know is that our system of justice affords a presumption of innocence to the accused, absent corroborating evidence. That is what binds us to the rule of law."

[CBN News] Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have voted to advance the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. The crucial vote happened Friday afternoon, sending his nomination to the full Senate where another vote will be required. (Photo: via CBN News)

But in a last-minute twist, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) followed later by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) pushed for a one-week FBI investigation of the accusations after the committee vote. That investigation would delay the vote by the full Senate.

Flake will need to work out the details of that FBI investigation and the delayed vote with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), but Flake says this case is ripping the nation apart, so he feels it would be 'proper' to delay the final Senate floor vote for a week.

Democrats had protested fiercely on Friday, but Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-NE) said that while both Kavanaugh and his accuser were credible, Kavanaugh is innocent until proven guilty, and there hasn't been corroborating evidence to prove that he is guilty.

Kavanaugh's nomination was in question because Flake, one of the key swing votes on the committee, hadn't been clearly supporting the nominee. But then Flake had released this statement: "What I do know is that our system of justice affords a presumption of innocence to the accused, absent corroborating evidence. That is what binds us to the rule of law."

"While some may argue that a different standard should apply regarding the Senate's advice and consent responsibilities, I believe that the Constitution's provisions of fairness and due process apply here as well," he said.

Late Thursday night, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) also said he'd be voting to approve Kavanaugh. But it's unclear how other fence-sitting Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins, will vote when the full Senate gets a chance to vote on the nomination.

Also on Thursday night, Republicans met with Rachel Mitchell, the sex-crimes prosecutor they hired to question Kavanaugh and his accuser Christine Blasey Ford. And Fox News reports Mitchell told GOP senators the case wasn't strong enough to hold up in a courtroom.

"Mitchell spelled it out and was clear with senators that she could not take this anywhere near a courtroom," one source told Fox News.

The experienced prosecutor reportedly said the lack of evidence means she wouldn't charge Kavanaugh with a crime if she was the person in charge of the case, and that there wasn't enough evidence to even seek a search warrant.

Mitchell's assessment may have been the key to convincing Republican senators to finally support Kavanaugh even after the emotional testimony of his accuser, Dr. Christian Blasey Ford. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here.