UPDATE 5:16 P.M EST: The Senate did agree to Flake’s request for an additional FBI investigation of no more than a week, sending the recommendation to the President.
And in a statement released through Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Twitter, Trump said:
“I’ve ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh’s file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.”
Is it already too late now that the Judiciary committee can no longer hold hearings based on any new evidence? Time will tell.
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh bragged all day Thursday (often instead of answering factual questions about the alleged sexual assault of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford) about being a good Catholic, a good student, and a good lawyer.
Before the Senate Judiciary Committee voted, the premiere Jesuit publication, America Magazine, said NO.
The dean of Yale Law School said STOP.
The American Bar Association said WAIT.
But the Republican Party under Donald Trump isn’t so good with the whole NO MEANS NO thing.
Videos: Trump Implies George Washington Was A Rapist
Even after Thursday’s wholly unbelievable testimony (Seriously, the Devil’s Triangle is a drinking game? He’s been drinking beer since 17 and has never gotten drunk? He always followed the chart to see how many beers to drink??), on Friday the GOP majority voted TO A MAN (because yes they’re all men, obviously) to recommend his confirmation.
That made the vote 11-10, advancing Kavanaugh to a vote on the floor of the Senate next week.
Despite Jeff Flake‘s moral handwringing, he still voted YEA. Only afterward did he propose the Senate delay their vote by one week to allow an FBI investigation of the credible sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh.
Flake was confronted by two rape victims who were in the building protesting; apparently their stories affected his thinking? But not Dr. Ford’s story. OK.
Video: Dr. Ford’s Testimony
We’re going to save you some waffling time here. Jeff Flake is not a hero. If he really felt an FBI investigation was needed, he could have voted NAY. He could have told his colleagues in advance he would vote NAY without an FBI investigation. He could have voted with the Democrats and subpoenaed the other witnesses — or even the other accusers. It’s too late for that now.
Even if there is an FBI investigation, and there’s no reason to think the GOP will do anything at the behest of Jeff Flake — after all, he’s proven when push comes to shove he tucks his tail between his legs and does whatever they say — it’s likely too late.
Now Mark Judge, the only other person in the room during the alleged assault, can just plead the fifth to the FBI, whereas the Senate committee could have compelled him to testify.
So again, it’s too late.
This is just BS posturing so Flake can look his family in the eye. He shouldn’t be able to. He voted YEA.
[Image via C-SPAN/YouTube.]