Speaking from the Oval Office Thursday afternoon, President Trump responded to new calls by Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to delay a full confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh until the FBI investigates sexual assault claims from nearly 40 years ago.
“I’m going to let the Senate handle that. They’ll make their decisions. They’ve been doing a good job and very professional. I’m just hearing a little bit about it because I’ve been with the president of Chile and were talking about some very important subjects. I’m sure it will all be very good. I guess the vote was a positive vote but there seems to be a delay. I’ll learn more about it as the day goes on. I just heard about it because we were together,” Trump said. "I’m going to rely on all the people, including Sen. Grassley who is doing a very good job. That is going to be a decision they are going to make and I suspect they’ll be making some decision soon whether to take a vote or do whatever else they want to do. I will be totally reliant on what Sen. Grassley and the group decides to do."
.@POTUS on possibility of re-opening background investigation on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh: "I will be totally reliant on what Senator Grassley and the group decides to do." https://t.co/3Rt4HcC3sV pic.twitter.com/vZjOX7mkBo
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 28, 2018
When asked if he was considering a replacement for Kavanaugh, President Trump said "not even a little bit."
Reporter: "Have you thought at all about a replacement for Judge Kavanaugh?"@POTUS: "Not even a little bit." https://t.co/3Rt4HcC3sV pic.twitter.com/E87MN6B9Ay
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 28, 2018
No word yet from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about how the vote will proceed.