The vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh is coming. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said so. It’s going to be this week. The question is when does the Senate want to get the ball rolling. If McConnell wants to hold a final vote by Saturday, he has to file a cloture motion tonight. Then again, I doubt any of this will move forward without the FBI report, which was reportedly in its final stages. Right now, anxiety is permeating Washington regarding that document, which will not be released to the public. Senators and certain staffers will be privy to it, which means the Capitol building is going to have more leaks than the Iraqi Navy soon (via AP):
Senators nervously awaited the arrival of a new FBI report on sexual allegations that could make or break Brett Kavanaugh’s tottering Supreme Court nomination Wednesday as aggressive protesters and an unusually strong security response added to a feeling of high anxiety inside the U.S. Capitol.
As lawmakers anticipated the report, expected as early as Wednesday evening, three moderate GOP senators who could decide the conservative jurist’s fate rebuked President Donald Trump for mocking one accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, by mimicking her responses to questions at last week’s dramatic Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Their reactions left Republicans concerned that Trump had complicated their effort to cement Kavanaugh’s support in a chamber where the GOP holds a razor-thin 51-49 majority. Depending on when the FBI report arrived, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was expected to trigger a process that could lead to a crucial initial vote Friday and a climactic confirmation roll call over the weekend.
Inside the Capitol, mounting political strains over the approaching election-season showdown were mirrored by growing anxieties over senators’ security following frequent and at times aggressive demonstrations by anti-Kavanaugh protesters. Unusually large numbers of Capitol Hill Police officers restricted movements in corridors and formed wedges around senators walking through hallways. Some lawmakers also complained of being confronted outside their homes.
On the Senate floor, McConnell, R-Ky., claimed the protesters were “part of the organized effort” to derail Kavanaugh’s nomination and said, “There is no chance in the world that they’re going to scare us out of doing our duty.”
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In the meantime, the clock is ticking:
Senate vocabulary. "Invoking cloture" is an effort to halt debate on a bill or a nomination. A cloture petition does so. If the Senate "invokes cloture," that means 51 sens on a nomination or 60 sens on a bill want to halt debate. But opponents get 30 hrs before a final vote
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 3, 2018
3 things to keep an eye on this evening with Kavanuagh:
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 3, 2018
3) Does McConnell “file cloture” on the Kavanaugh nomination? If so, this triggers a Friday procedural vote to break a filibuster & likely sets up a Saturday confirmation vote. McConnell must file cloture by 11:59:59 pm et
3 things to keep an eye on this evening on Kavanaugh:
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 3, 2018
2) If the FBI completes its rpt, do we find out any details of what the report says about Kavanaugh’s conduct?
Three things to keep an eye on this evening on Kavanaugh:
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 3, 2018
1 ) Does the FBI complete its report on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and send it to the Senate?
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