Senate Judiciary Democrats have formally asked Republicans to delay Thursday’s planned vote to advance Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who stands accused of a high-school attempted sexual assault.
The request came as another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said the accusations may force the Senate to take more time to consider the nomination.
In a letter sent Monday to Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Democrats cited “serious questions about Judge Kavanaugh’s record, truthfulness and character.” Democrats said the vote should wait, “until all of these questions have been thoroughly evaluated and answered.”
[Kellyanne Conway: Kavanaugh accuser ‘should not be ignored’]
Democrats also want the FBI to fully investigate the allegations made by Palo Alto University professor Christine Blasey Ford, who said Sunday that Kavanaugh held her down, covered her mouth and attempted to sexually assault her at a high school party 35 years ago. Democrats rejected GOP offers to have committee staff look into the matter and are insisting the FBI take on the case.
“Once the FBI has completed its independent work, we hope that we can work together in a bipartisan manner to decide on the next steps,” Democrats wrote.
Grassley said Sunday the vote would take place on Thursday, but two GOP panel members, and now Murkowski, say they want more information about the accusations.
Grassley and GOP lawmakers supportive of moving forward with the nomination note that Kavanaugh has cleared six FBI background checks over his career.
Democrats said Kavanaugh’s testimony during his confirmation hearings and written responses “raise significant questions about his view and character,” and they accuse him of providing misleading answers to their questions about his work for President George W. Bush.
