Rep. Jerrold Nadler said that if House Democrats win a majority in midterms next month they would open an investigation of perjury and sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh, the NYT reports.
Why it matters: Nadler, who is in line to be the House Judiciary Committee chairman, argues that the Senate "failed" to do its job of advice and consent on the nominee and says he wants to "protect the legitimacy" of the highest court in the land. Kavanaugh all but sealed his confirmation Friday when the last few senators announced their decisions on his nomination.
Moments after Senator Susan Collins announced her decision to confirm Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh, reactions from her peers poured in.
The big picture: Republicans couldn't be happier, while Democrats walk away virtually defeated. The left was holding out for Collins, a Republican from Maine, and minutes after her announcement Sen. Joe Manchin followed suit securing the votes needed to pass Kavanaugh through to the Supreme Court.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders immediately responded to Sen. Susan Collins' "yes" vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, thanking her for her decision.
"Thank you @SenatorCollins for standing by your convictions and doing the right thing to confirm Judge Kavanaugh."
Republican Senator Susan Collins announced on the Senate floor that she will vote "yes" to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Why it matters: Kavanaugh will be confirmed. Collins defended his judicial record and said the allegations against him "fail to meet" a standard of proof to prevent him from serving on the court.
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) plans on voting in favor of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the United States Supreme Court "unless something big changes," NBC News reports, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she will vote against his confirmation, saying Kavanaugh is "not the right man for the court at this time," per CNN.
Why it matters: Flake and Murkowski were two of four undecided senators coming into Friday's vote. Sens. Collins (R-Maine) and Manchin (D-W.Va.) are still undecided. If both vote no, then Kavanaugh's nomination is killed. If both vote yes, then he is confirmed. If one votes yes and the other no, then Vice President Pence will cast a vote as he presides over the Senate, and is expected to vote in favor of Kavanaugh. Senators can switch their votes, however, so intent to vote does not equal their final vote.
Brett Kavanaugh has advanced to a final vote on his confirmation to the Supreme Court, with a tally of 51-49 on the Senate's vote today to end debate on his nomination.
What's next: The Senate will take a final vote, likely tomorrow, on his confirmation. Sens. Collins, Flake, Manchin and Murkowski have yet to announce their final decisions. The first three voted yes on today's vote, while Murkowski voted no.
Zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion — this is General Motors’ vision. These potential benefits of self-driving technology can only be fully realized when self-driving cars are deployed in large numbers, and when riders feel comfortable and secure.
What's needed: Federal legislation would provide a path for manufacturers to put self-driving vehicles on the roads safely, while allowing continued innovation. Current federal law prohibits deployment of self-driving vehicles without steering wheels and other conventional driver controls. And other regulations for self-driving cars vary from state to state.
In an op-ed titled "I Am an Independent, Impartial Judge" published in The Wall Street Journal one week after he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh defends his emotional testimony, explaining that it does not reflect his ability to be independent in court.
One key quote: "I was very emotional last Thursday, more so than I have ever been. I might have been too emotional at times. I know that my tone was sharp, and I said a few things I should not have said. I hope everyone can understand that I was there as a son, husband and dad."
Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has pulled back his support for Brett Kavanaugh, arguing Thursday that the nominee’s performance at his confirmation hearings should disqualify him from the bench, per Palm Beach Post reporter, Lulu Ramadan.
The details: Stevens, 98, had previously said Kavanaugh "had the qualifications" to sit on the country's highest court. "His performance in the hearings changed my mind... The Senators should pay attention to this," he said at an event in Florida. The Senate is set to take its first procedural vote Friday on whether to confirm Kavanaugh. Stevens was appointed to the court in 1975 by former President Gerald Ford and served as an associate justice until his retirement in 2010.
In a press conference with other top Republican senators Thursday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said Judge Brett Kavanaugh should be confirmed on Saturday.
The details: This comes after key senators, who reviewed the supplemental FBI background investigation into allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against President Trump's Supreme Court pick, signaled some confidence and satisfaction with the quality of the probe. Republicans said the FBI report has not corroborated the allegations made against Kavanaugh.
At a Bloomberg roundtable, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Rep. Ben Ray Luján told reporters that eight Democratic House candidates have raised over $3 million since the end of June.
Why it matters: That is "unprecedented" for House races, Luján said — and it shows the enthusiasm among grassroots activists and donors who have been fueling Democratic campaigns across the country all cycle.
Top Republicans tell Axios that they're seeing a surprising and widespread surge in GOP voter enthusiasm, powered largely by support for Brett Kavanaugh and his Supreme Court nomination.
What they're saying: "The Kavanaugh debate has dropped a political grenade into the middle of an electorate that had been largely locked in Democrats' favor for the past six months," said Josh Holmes, a former top aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
A new Public Affairs Council/Morning Consult poll reveals that a majority of Americans have become indifferent toward President Trump's tweets on business, political news and campaign finances practices.
Why it matters: Several polls have revealed Americans distrust political news from social media, but now responses show the president is no exception. Overall, the poll of 2,200 adults revealed that people have a cynical attitude toward information on politics and business news.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed cloture on the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh late Wednesday, setting up a Friday procedural vote.
The details: This means that the Senate will make a final vote as early as Saturday. McConnell said the Senate will receive the FBI’s review of Kavanaugh’s background Wednesday night.
A federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday to temporarily block the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan.
Why it matters: This is a significant victory for more than 300,000 TPS beneficiaries and advocates seeking to reinstate the program that protects some undocumented immigrants from deportation — many of whom have been living in the U.S. for decades and have children who are American. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen wrote that the government must maintain TPS while a suit challenging its decision plays out in court. Chen's ruling comes as recipients from Sudan were set to lose their protections next month.
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