Senate committee votes on Kavanaugh after emotional hearing

Grassley adjourns the session.

“I would only be comfortable moving on the floor” if the FBI completes the investigation. “We owe them due diligence,” says Flake.

“This country is being ripped apart here,” Flake tries to explain himself to the committee. He urges a “short pause” so Democrats can’t complain there hasn’t been an investigation, so “we can then move on.”

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) is asking for a FBI investigation, “not for the purpose of delay, but to investigate further and… demonstrate a bipartisan commitment” to due diligence.

 “I love this committee but we’re not the majority leader. It doesn’t matter what we say here, this is up to Sen. Schumer and Sen. McConnell,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) points out.

The committee votes: All Republicans are in favor, including Flake. All Democrats are opposed.

The scheduled time for the vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee has come and gone, with a lot of behind-the-scenes activity. Even if he doesn’t get the committee’s recommendation, Kavanaugh can still be confirmed in the Senate floor vote - but the committee has to vote, one way or another.

The senators are now taking a break before the vote takes place.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is making a last appeal to avoid a rush to judgment, asking for the vote to be delayed.

Blumenthal says Kavanaugh was "filled with anger" on Thursday, causing him to believe he would not be an impartial voice on the Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh's views are a "disqualifer" for Blumenthal. But his "character and fitness" should be disqualifers for everyone.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) says there were no winners on Thursday, just two people in pain. He adds that he is certain something happened to Ford, but does not believe Kavanaugh was involved.

"And that is why I support his nomination."

"This is no country for creepy young men, or old men, or middle-aged men," he said, adding that the way women are treated in America matters. However, due process is necessary.

He says that the person or people who breached Ford's anonymity by leaking the letter and not telling her she could have testified in private should "hide their head in a bag for the rest of their natural life."

Hashtag #delaytheVote has been trending in the US since morning.