The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a possible Friday vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, panel Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, announced Tuesday.
Grassley tweeted Tuesday that a vote on Kavanaugh is possible that day, but will depend on the results of Thursday’s hearing with the nominee and the woman who accused him of sexual assault, Christine Blasey Ford.
“After hrg Dr Ford & Judge Kavanaugh’s tesitmoney — if we’re ready to vote, we will vote,” he tweeted. “If we aren’t ready, we won’t.”
Judic Cmte noticed POTENTIAL exec mtg for Friday. Still taking this 1 step at a time. After hrg Dr Ford & Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony- if we‘re ready to vote, we will vote. If we aren’t ready, we won’t. Cmte rules normally require 3 days notice so we‘re following regular order
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 25, 2018
Grassley said he was still respecting the upcoming hearing, but was scheduling the vote because committee rules require a three-day notice. “Still taking this 1 step at a time,” he said.
Ford is scheduled to air her complaint at a Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday, and Kavanaugh will testify in his own defense.
Assuming the Judiciary Committee votes Friday, the nomination would move to the floor for a series of votes beginning as early as this weekend, and a final confirmation vote is likely Tuesday, said Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas.
Grassley has denied a request from Democrats to postpone the confirmation process so that the FBI can investigate Kavanaugh.
The vote will move forward despite a second uncorroborated allegation from college classmate Deborah Ramirez, who claimed in the New Yorker that Kavanaugh thrust his groin in her face at a drunken party their freshman year.
Republicans say lawyers for Ramirez said she will not be providing an interview about the matter to Judiciary Committee staff.
