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Despite the explosive testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford against President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday, and the fact there hasn’t been an FBI investigation into her claims of sexual assault, Republicans are steps closer to getting their good ole boy confirmed.
Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee decided along party lines to schedule a vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination for 1:30 p.m. Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) walked out of the hearing room in protest.
“I strongly object,” Hirono shouted before leaving. “This is just totally ridiculous. What a railroad job. My answer is no, no, no!”
Democrats weren’t able to force Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to call additional witnesses to testify.
“This is a sham what’s going on in there right now,” Harris said. “Democrats are not being heard. They are pushing through this process.”
Ranking Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein summed up their ire.
“I hoped we would do better and show women that our country, our committee, has in fact changed,” Feinstein said. “This isn’t a political battle for power, as some have said.
“This is a serious undertaking with serious allegations. While the Republican strategy is no longer attack the victim, it is ignore the victim. The entire country is watching now how we handle these serious allegations.”
Sen. Cory Booker and Harris declined to vote to protest Republicans handling of the nomination.
Friday morning, Sen. Jeff Flake, (R-Ariz.) announced his support of the nominee accused of sexual assault.
“Two key undecided Republican votes remain: Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Maine Senator Susan Collins,” according to NPR. “Democrat Joe Manchin is undecided, as well.”
The three senators spoke with Flake after the hearing on Thursday.
Democrats told reporters they have not determined whether they’ll boycott the committee vote.
“Haven’t decided yet,” Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono told reporters.
Republicans aim to hold a final Senate vote early next week.