By JENNIFER HABERKORN
\nLos Angeles Times<\/p>\n
In a surprise turnaround, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) joined Democrats in calling for a one-week delay in final voting on President Trump\u2019s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, to allow for an FBI probe into the sexual assault allegations against him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI think it would be proper to delay the floor vote for up to but no more than one week,\u201d Flake said at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, after huddling with Democrats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Despite Flake\u2019s new position, the panel proceeded to approve Kavanaugh\u2019s nomination by 11 to 10, with strong objections from Democrats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
A preliminary vote by the full Senate was originally planned for Saturday, and Republicans were optimistic of Kavanaugh\u2019s confirmation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell must now decide whether to hold the floor vote as planned. Flake’s concerns cast new doubt on the prospects of Kavanaugh’s nomination, particularly because Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) had also called for an FBI probe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Republicans cannot afford to lose more than one of their members, assuming all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The committee vote came a day after powerful testimony from Palo Alto professor Christine Blasey Ford, who said she was \u201c100 percent\u201d certain that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were both in high school in the early 1980s. Kavanaugh emotionally and strongly denied the allegation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Earlier in the day, Flake said he would vote to approve Kavanaugh, a key gesture of support that made the nominee\u2019s confirmation more likely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Flake said he left Thursday\u2019s hearing with \u201cas much doubt as certainty.\u201d But, \u201cI believe that the constitution\u2019s provisions of fairness and due process apply here as well. I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
But after coming under intense criticism from protesters in the Capitol, Flake appeared to have second thoughts about voting this weekend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
During a committee hearing in the morning, Flake abruptly left with Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) to huddle outside the room.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Meanwhile, a key Democrat \u2014 Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana \u2014 said he would oppose Kavanaugh\u2019s nomination. The move by Donnelly, who supported Trump\u2019s first Supreme Court nominee Neil M. Gorsuch, further increases the partisan tone of Kavanaugh\u2019s nomination. It also increases the pressure on key Republican holdouts to support the nomination if it is to be successful on the Senate floor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI have deep reservations about Judge Kavanaugh\u2019s nomination to this lifetime position,\u201d Donnelly said, echoing calls from other Democrats for an FBI investigation into Ford\u2019s allegation. \u201cOnly 113 people have ever served on the Supreme Court, and I believe that we must do our level best to protect its sanctity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Flake and Donnelly were two of several undecided senators. Republicans hold a slim 51-seat majority in the Senate and will need nearly every vote to confirm Kavanaugh amid strong Democratic opposition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Republicans are confident they will have the 50 votes needed to confirm the nomination, but two key senators have not yet said how they will vote: Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n