It’s so rare for Democrats and Republicans to work together in today’s politically charged environment…
Flake and Coons made it work this time.
CNN has a interview with Coons providing his side of this remarkable negotiation that Flake initiated.
This nomination has become so divisive.Flake genuinely wanted to reduce the strife that’s gripping this country.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/571705/
But for at least one brief, shining moment on Friday, Senators Jeff Flake and Chris Coons’ gentleman’s agreement to postpone a floor vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination for no more than one week to allow a swift FBI investigation of the sexual assault allegations against him, showed that even in this sulfurous age, in the Senate, a single member can still make a difference—and friendship can, too.
Their agreement was not a formal motion or amendment, and the Senate Judiciary Committee never so much voted on it. The procedure was so unorthodox, that when the hearing ended, the committee’s ranking member, Dianne Feinstein, was befuddled by what had just happened. “This is all a gentleman’s and woman’s agreement,” the chairman Chuck Grassley was overheard assuring her on an open mic at the committee dais. (The committee later announced that it would ask the Trump administration to instruct the FBI to begin a supplemental background investigation over the next week into “current, credible allegations” against Kavanaugh).
Iggy
September 29, 2018, 11:59am
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My guess is that McConnell doesn’t think he has the votes unless he consents to Flake’s request for a one week FBI supplementary investigation.
If McConnell really wanted to kill the Kavanaugh nomination he would schedule a vote on the Senate floor ASAP and decline to make the request for the FBI nomination. That would give the wavering GOP Senators the cover they need to vote No.
The Senate Judiciary committee has published a 414 page report: