GOP Sen. Susan Collins to Vote ‘Yes’ on Kavanaugh
During a dramatic floor speech on Friday, Sen. Susan Collins announced she was a ‘yes’ on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh.
“We’ve heard a lot of charges and counter-charges about Judge Kavanaugh. But as those who have known him best have attested, he has been an exemplary public servant, judge, teacher, coach, husband and father,” Collins said.
She continued on: “Despite the turbulent, bitter fight surrounding his nomination, my fervent hope is that Brett Kavanaugh will work to lessen the divisions in the Supreme Court so that we have far fewer 5-4 decisions and so that public confidence in our judiciary and our highest court is restored.”
Then, announcing her decision, she said: “Mr. President, I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.”
Her remarks came at the conclusion of a lengthy floor speech where she claimed the confirmation process had resembled a “caricature of a gutter-level political campaign” and took to task the leaker of the Christine Blasey Ford letter while making it clear she did not think the leaker was Democratic colleague Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
The senator also stressed every person who is victim of sexual assault deserves to be heard.
Collins decision is huge boost to the Republicans who have a razor-thin majority in the Senate and can only stand to lose one GOP vote.
Earlier today, fellow Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted ‘no’ on cloture and appeared to be leaning to voting ‘no’ in the final vote.
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), whose actions in the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting promoted the FBI probe on Kavanaugh, said he is leaning towards ‘yes.’
Lone undecided Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who is in a tough re-election bid back home in red state West Virginia, also announced he is a ‘yes’ shortly after Collins’ speech.
The Maine Senator’s ‘yes’ vote, as well as Manchin’s, now paves the way for Republicans to have the votes they need with the remainder of Democrats voting ‘no’ to push the Kavanaugh nomination through. A final vote is expected on Saturday.
[image via screengrab]
