Trump Backs FBI Check On Top Court Nominee
The
move came after a Senate committee voted to approve Brett Kavanaugh's
nomination to the top US court.
But
a Republican member only backed the move on the understanding that such an
inquiry would occur.
As
a result, a full Senate vote on Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation has been delayed
for up to a week.
The
White House statement came after Republican leaders in the Senate agreed to
support the request for an FBI inquiry.
Judge Kavanaugh
denies allegations from at least three women.
On Thursday, the
committee heard testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, a professor of psychology
in California, who says Judge Kavanaugh - nominated to the court by President
Trump - sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers in the 1980s.
Judge
Kavanaugh also testified on Thursday, angrily rejecting the allegation he had
ever assaulted her or anyone else. He accused Democrats of politicising the
process and harming his family and good name.
An FBI investigation
into the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh will not be a new inquiry.
The
bureau will instead reopen its previously completed background check on Judge
Kavanaugh. This might mean going back to old witnesses - or speaking to new
ones.
Friday saw
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee throw out Democrat attempts to
subpoena Mark Judge, a friend of Judge Kavanaugh who Dr Ford said had witnessed
the assault on her 36 years ago.
Mr
Judge had told the committee in a written statement that he did not recall any
such incident.
After
the committee had adjourned, Mr Judge's lawyer Barbara Van Gelder said:
"If the FBI or any law enforcement agency requests Mr Judge's
co-operation, he will answer any and all questions posed to him."
On Friday, a day
after hearing from Dr Ford and Judge Kavanaugh, the Senate Judiciary Committee
split along party lines in a vote on passing the nomination to the full Senate.
Democrats
accused the 11 Republicans of attempting to rush the process, while Republicans
countered that the 10 Democrats were using the allegations against Judge
Kavanaugh in an attempt to delay - and ultimately block - the conservative
judge from joining the Supreme Court.
Arizona Republican
Jeff Flake then told the committee that he would back the motion to send Judge
Kavanaugh's nomination for a full vote on the Senate floor - but would not
support his confirmation in the Senate without the additional FBI probe for
which the Democrats and the American Bar Association had been pressing.
The vote then went
ahead, with all 11 Republicans including Mr Flake in favour and all 10
Democrats - despite welcoming Mr Flake's intervention - voting against.
A
statement issued later by the committee said it would "request that the
administration instruct the FBI to conduct a supplemental FBI background
investigation".
It
said: "The supplemental FBI background investigation would be limited to
current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later
than one week from today."
Mr
Flake, who often differs from Mr Trump and the Republican leadership in
Congress, had issued a statement shortly before Friday's session began stating
that he would back Judge Kavanaugh.
On
his way to the committee room, he was berated by two women who said they were
victims of sexual violence and urged him to change his mind.
Speaking
to reporters at the White House after the committee vote, Mr Trump said he
would leave it to Senate leaders to decide how to proceed.
"Whatever
they think is necessary is okay," he said. "They have to do what they
think is right."
But
he continued to support Judge Kavanaugh, saying he had not thought "even a
little bit" about a replacement - but added that he had found Dr Ford a
"credible witness".
The Supreme Court
plays a vital role in US political life. Appointed for life, its nine members
have the final say on US law.
This
includes highly contentious social issues, such as abortion, and challenges to
government policy.
Judge Kavanaugh's
appointment could tilt the balance in favour of conservatives for years to
come.
Republicans
control the Senate by a narrow 51-49 majority. Without the support of Mr Flake
and one other Republican senator - and assuming all Democrats vote against -
the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh cannot occur.
A
simple majority of those present is needed for the confirmation. If there is a
tie, the vice-president, who presides over the Senate, casts the deciding vote.
Yes, and new ones
appeared ahead of Thursday's hearing. At present they are:
§
Deborah Ramirez.
The former Yale University student has said that Brett Kavanaugh once exposed himself to her at a
dormitory party in the 1980s. She alleges the incident occurred
during a drinking game and remembers Brett Kavanaugh standing to her right and
laughing
§
Julie Swetnick. A
Washington DC resident. In a sworn affidavit, she alleges Brett Kavanaugh was
involved in the drugging and sexual assault of girls at house parties in the
1980s. She says she was the victim of a gang rape in 1982 at a party attended
by the now-Supreme Court nominee
§
Anonymous. A woman sent a letter to a Colorado senator alleging
her daughter had witnessed Judge Kavanaugh pushing a woman he was dating
"very aggressively and sexually" against a wall in 1998
Judge
Kavanaugh denies these allegations, and on Thursday called Ms Swetnick's
allegation "a joke" and "a farce".
FROM .bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-
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