Tom Williams / AP
Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Published Friday, Sept. 28, 2018 | 2 a.m.
Updated Friday, Sept. 28, 2018 | 4:23 p.m.
Nevada’s Sen. Dean Heller would not answer whether testimony from a woman accusing President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick of sexual misconduct would prompt him to vote no on the nominee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines on Friday to put nominee Brett Kavanaugh to a full Senate vote. After Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh testified before the committee Thursday, Heller’s office did not answer whether he planned to vote against Kavanaugh’s confirmation when the vote reaches the Senate floor.
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, today called for a one-week delay in the floor vote to allow for an FBI investigation into accusations against Kavanaugh.
The White House later released a statement saying Trump had "ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file." It will be limited and scope and take less than a week, Trump said.
Kavanaugh said he would cooperate.
After the Trump administration called for the delay, Heller said in a separate statement Friday that he supported the decision. He reaffirmed his support for Kavanaugh, and said he saw no “corroborating evidence” to support Ford’s accusation.
"It is my hope that after this additional week, other senators will come to the conclusion that I have reached and support Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination,” Heller said.
In an earlier statement, Heller said, “I commend Dr. Ford for bravely sharing her story with my colleagues. I also appreciate Judge Kavanaugh's compelling testimony in which he delivered a raw defense of his honor and a vehement denial of the allegations. Despite the Democrats' extreme politicization of this nomination, (Committee) Chairman Chuck Grassley has led a fair and thorough confirmation process. As I’ve said previously, all senators — regardless of party — should work with Chairman Grassley in good faith, and I hope that my colleagues will determine the burden of proof by evaluating all of the facts on the basis of their merit.”
Nevada’s Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto previously announced her opposition to Kavanaugh based on his judicial record, especially regarding abortion rights. Kavanaugh weighed in on the side of delaying the abortion of an underage Central American immigrant.
“Dr. Ford has bravely shared her credible (and) powerful testimony,” Cortez Masto said on Twitter. “The hearing so far has shown (two) important things: We must respect the stories of brave women coming forward and that the confirmation process for (Kavanaugh) must be halted (and) his FBI background check reopened.
“As senators, we must take our constitutional role to advise (and) consent seriously,” Cortez Masto said. “This is about confirming (Kavanaugh) to a lifetime appointment on the highest court. My fellow senators all must ask ourselves what kind of country we want our children (and) grandchildren living in.”
Ford and many Democrats have called for an FBI investigation into the accusation, in addition to the checks already performed for Supreme Court picks. Kavanaugh did not answer questions during the hearing about whether he would support an FBI investigation.
Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct by two additional women since Ford came forward. The judge denied the accusations again at Thursday’s hearing. Trump has said he still supports his nominee.
On Friday, protesters showed up at U.S. Sen. Dean Heller’s Las Vegas office to voice opposition to his support of the nominee. Lindsey Harmon, executive director of Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood Affiliates, said advocates were “fired up and hurt and ready to make their voices heard.” She pointed to former federal judge and current GOP Gov. Brian Sandoval’s recent call for an investigation.
Harmon said Heller, a Republican, seems to be giving Kavanaugh “unwavering support.” She said it was “troubling” and “cowardly” that Heller has not answered questions as to whether Ford’s testimony would influence his vote.
“We feel like the Senate Judiciary Committee had already made up their mind and were transparent in their attempt to ignore and discredit Dr. Ford,” Harmon said. “They have rejected opening up an investigation until now. That is critical before there is a vote on the floor.”
