The Republican attempt to ram the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court is beginning to crumble as Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) called today for an FBI investigation into the multiple allegations of sexual assault against the nominee, according to an article on The Hill.
Senator Murkowski has been watched closely by observers of the confirmation process as one of the potential swing votes—along with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ)—who could derail Kavanaugh’s confirmation if she decides to withdraw her support for the right-wing candidate put forth by President Trump and the conservative Federalist Society.
Murkowski was asked by reporters today whether there should be additional FBI investigation into Kavanaugh’s past after the new allegations against him have surfaced.
“It would sure clear up all the questions, wouldn’t it?”, she replied.
Asked if there should be an FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh’s past, Sen. Murkowski says: “It would sure clear up all the questions, wouldn’t it?” pic.twitter.com/jMKzXjqY8h
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 25, 2018
Since Senator Murkowski is not a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, her desire to see the FBI investigate the accusations against Kavanaugh carry no weight beyond being an indication of how she may eventually vote on the confirmation when it comes up before the entire Senate.
With Trump, who controls the executive branch that includes both the Justice Department and the FBI, dismissing the women’s accusations and calling the allegations a “con job” by Democrats, only a massive outpouring of public sentiment can force the administration to relent and order the FBI to interview all the witnesses and participants in the incidents to determine their veracity.
With Senator Murkowski now expressing her desire to get an FBI-verified account of the facts in the allegations, however, the certainty of Kavanaugh’s confirmation has gone from being assured to hanging on by a thread.
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Original reporting by Michael Burke in The Hill.
