Brett Kavanaugh vote: Trump orders FBI background investigation into Supreme Court nominee after Jeff Flake calls for Senate vote delay
After the committee decision attention will turn to moderate Senate Republicans like Susan Collins and their possible voting intentions in a full chamber vote
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Your support makes all the difference.The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved Donald Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, in a vote 11-10 on party lines.
However, moderate Republican Senator Jeff Flake called for an FBI investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against the judge before a final Senate vote. Mr Trump later ordered the FBI to conduct that understanding.
Mr Flake's intervention means a final Senate vote on the nomination could be delayed for up to a week so that the FBI investigation can be completed. Mr Kavanuagh denies the allegations from three different women.
“I will vote to advance the nominee to the floor with that understanding,” Mr Flake said.
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Ms Feinstein and Mr Grassley are quietly speaking during a break. One reporter said the hot mic may have picked her up saying: "Jeff [Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican] can force it if he wants to but there is no agreement to do that”
There are murmurs Mr Flake may change his vote.
Mr Flake is not running for re-election and to say he has been at odds with Mr Trump is putting it kindly.
There was also this dramatic, agonising confrontation by protesters this morning. You can watch it here:
Mr Flake has been in the anteroom of the hearing room for about 30 minutes with his personal friend Democratic Senator Chris Coons and others.
Mr Coons left the anteroom at one point and went to Ms Feinstein, whispering something which prompted chatter among Democrats, according to CNN.
Ms Feinstein, her staff director, and Mr Coons all returned to the anteroom, presumably to continue to speak with Mr Flake.
Mr Grassley briefly left the hearing room, but has returned. There may be some sort of discussion going on.
Democrats have been repeatedly asking for a one week delay in the vote in order to conduct a more thorough investigation into Dr Ford's allegations.
Most of the Senators are in the back room at the moment.
Widespread protests have been going on for several days, prompting Capitol Police to confiscate whistles the protesters were using to create noise.
Several protesters, some sexual assault survivors, have been having meetings with Republican Senator Susan Collins to appeal to her not to vote for Mr Kavanaugh.
Some have also threatened to fund her opponent, a Democrat, running against for the Senate seat in the 2018 midterm elections set to take place on 6 November.
Nothing is certain at this point, as the vote was supposed to take place 15 minutes ago. Follow along as we get you the latest information from Capitol Hill.
Senator Lisa Murkowski is the other female Republican Senator protesters have been attempting to influence.
She has been fairly quiet on her voting decision, but CNN reports she had also wanted a slight delay in the vote in order to hear from other witnesses.
Mr Grassley has gaveled in and waiting to make sure there is quorum in order to introduce another motion.
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