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| Brett Kavanaugh: Susan Collins announces decision as hundreds protest – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Collins says she has spoken to Kavanaugh privately for several hours. | |
| She also said she has met with thousands of her constituents, who she said spoke extensively about fears Kavanaugh would gut the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. She says she’s not worried about that. | |
| She said another concern people have brought her is that Kavanaugh would give protection to a president facing charges because of his previous writings on executive power. | |
| Collins hasn’t said how she is voting, but the early guess is she’ll be a yes for Kavanaugh. | |
| She has yet to address the sexual assault allegations, but it doesn’t sound like she’s ending her remarks anytime soon. | |
| This sounds like someone who was yes from moment 1. | |
| Collins has female senators Capito and Hyde-Smith, who support Kavanaugh, sitting behind her for this speech. | |
| Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, says the confirmation process has become dysfunctional and chaotic instead of the solemn occasion it should be. | |
| She accuses special interest groups of spending “an unprecedented amount of dark money opposing this confirmation.” | |
| She says the supreme court confirmation process has “been in steady decline for more than 30 years,” but hopes the Kavanaugh nomination is “rock bottom.” | |
| Collins sent a press alert confirming she would speak at 3:05pm. | |
| It’s 3:08pm ... and she should be speaking momentarily. | |
| Protestors, however, are shouting in the galleries. | |
| Protesters are shouting from the gallery at the start of Susan Collins’ speech on Senate floor: "Vote no. Show up for Maine women!" | |
| White House press secretary Sarah Sanders spoke to reporters briefly this afternoon, after the cloture vote. | |
| Asked if the White House and Senate GOP leaders have the votes to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, she said: “I sure hope so.” | Asked if the White House and Senate GOP leaders have the votes to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, she said: “I sure hope so.” |
| “I think that we should,” she added. | “I think that we should,” she added. |
| “He’s done more than any nominee in history in terms of amount of documents he’s turned over, hours of testimony, interviews. | |
| “Look, the president supports his nominee and wants to see him get confirmed.” | “Look, the president supports his nominee and wants to see him get confirmed.” |
| When asked if the White House was worried about Kavanaugh supporters in the Senate changing their minds before the vote, Sanders said: “Honestly, I think a lot of Democrats should change their mind and do the right thing and [confirm] Judge Kavanaugh.” | When asked if the White House was worried about Kavanaugh supporters in the Senate changing their minds before the vote, Sanders said: “Honestly, I think a lot of Democrats should change their mind and do the right thing and [confirm] Judge Kavanaugh.” |
| White House officials hope the Senate votes on Saturday, Sanders said. | White House officials hope the Senate votes on Saturday, Sanders said. |
| With the vote to confirm Kavanaugh looking so close, one senator’s daughter’s wedding has gained unusual prominence. | With the vote to confirm Kavanaugh looking so close, one senator’s daughter’s wedding has gained unusual prominence. |
| Senator Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, plans to attend his daughter’s wedding in his home state on Saturday – the expected voting day. | Senator Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, plans to attend his daughter’s wedding in his home state on Saturday – the expected voting day. |
| The Senate is divided 51-49 Republican to Democrat. If all Democrats vote no (not a certainty) and one Republican defects, there will be a tie decided by vice-president Mike Pence. | The Senate is divided 51-49 Republican to Democrat. If all Democrats vote no (not a certainty) and one Republican defects, there will be a tie decided by vice-president Mike Pence. |
| That slim margin also means there is not room for a Republican senator not to show up – even if it’s his daughter’s wedding. | That slim margin also means there is not room for a Republican senator not to show up – even if it’s his daughter’s wedding. |
| Another complicating factor? There’s no direct commercial flights out of Montana to DC on Saturday, and with layovers the journey could take more than seven hours – not an ideal travel time for someone looking to attend a wedding and a historic Senate vote. | Another complicating factor? There’s no direct commercial flights out of Montana to DC on Saturday, and with layovers the journey could take more than seven hours – not an ideal travel time for someone looking to attend a wedding and a historic Senate vote. |
| Daines, however, said Friday afternoon he’d sorted it out. | Daines, however, said Friday afternoon he’d sorted it out. |
| APNewsBreak: U.S. Sen. Steve Daines says he'll return to Washington D.C. via 'good friend' Greg Gianforte's private jet on his daughter's wedding day if Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court comes down to the Montana Republican's vote | APNewsBreak: U.S. Sen. Steve Daines says he'll return to Washington D.C. via 'good friend' Greg Gianforte's private jet on his daughter's wedding day if Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court comes down to the Montana Republican's vote |
| Gianforte is the congressman who assaulted Guardian journalist Ben Jacobs. | Gianforte is the congressman who assaulted Guardian journalist Ben Jacobs. |
| Hello, we’re back. Protests are raging across Washington DC as activists try to push swing senators their way. | Hello, we’re back. Protests are raging across Washington DC as activists try to push swing senators their way. |
| Everyone is watching for Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who has promised a speech at 3pm announcing whether or not she will be backing Kavanaugh. | Everyone is watching for Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who has promised a speech at 3pm announcing whether or not she will be backing Kavanaugh. |
| In response to Donald Trump’s tweet alleging anti-Kavanaugh protestors were “paid professionals,” the Daily Beast’s Sam Stein has this observation from the halls of Congress. | In response to Donald Trump’s tweet alleging anti-Kavanaugh protestors were “paid professionals,” the Daily Beast’s Sam Stein has this observation from the halls of Congress. |
| For all the talk of anti-Kavanaugh protesters being paid, I just saw a group of Confirm Kavanaugh folks whip out a binder with a FreedomWorks logo on it and a printout of all the Senators (with their pictures next to them) who they should lobby | For all the talk of anti-Kavanaugh protesters being paid, I just saw a group of Confirm Kavanaugh folks whip out a binder with a FreedomWorks logo on it and a printout of all the Senators (with their pictures next to them) who they should lobby |
| (FreedomWorks is a national conservative group.) | (FreedomWorks is a national conservative group.) |
| Dozens of men are being arrested in D.C. right now for protesting Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Imagine if our Senators stood up for women like this. Make that reality. VOTE November 6th. pic.twitter.com/etq74341r8 | Dozens of men are being arrested in D.C. right now for protesting Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Imagine if our Senators stood up for women like this. Make that reality. VOTE November 6th. pic.twitter.com/etq74341r8 |
| We’re taking a brief break ahead of a 3pm speech by Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine. | We’re taking a brief break ahead of a 3pm speech by Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine. |
| Collins voted yes for cloture but said she would hold her announcement on whether or not she supports Kavanaugh until making remarks on the Senate floor this afternoon. | Collins voted yes for cloture but said she would hold her announcement on whether or not she supports Kavanaugh until making remarks on the Senate floor this afternoon. |
| We’ll be back around 2:15pm ET with the latest heading into the afternoon session. | We’ll be back around 2:15pm ET with the latest heading into the afternoon session. |
| Survivors of sexual assault are delivering tearful speeches in Susan Collins’s Capitol office. One woman says this month is the first time she’s ever come close to talking about being assaulted. pic.twitter.com/2mU1XIdiNE | Survivors of sexual assault are delivering tearful speeches in Susan Collins’s Capitol office. One woman says this month is the first time she’s ever come close to talking about being assaulted. pic.twitter.com/2mU1XIdiNE |
| No sign of Collins in the outer office, not sure where she’s at. Her staff are just going about their work as both sides turn the office into a town square. https://t.co/4HVXV8g9mE | No sign of Collins in the outer office, not sure where she’s at. Her staff are just going about their work as both sides turn the office into a town square. https://t.co/4HVXV8g9mE |
| It's hard to see a situation where Collins joins Murkowski and votes no, then Manchin defects and becomes the decisive 'yes' vote on Kavanaugh. Manchin has yet to put out a statement, and likely will wait until after Collins' remarks. So that means everything is riding on Collins | It's hard to see a situation where Collins joins Murkowski and votes no, then Manchin defects and becomes the decisive 'yes' vote on Kavanaugh. Manchin has yet to put out a statement, and likely will wait until after Collins' remarks. So that means everything is riding on Collins |
| Arizona Senator Jeff Flake just told reporters that barring a big change, he will be a yes vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation tomorrow. | Arizona Senator Jeff Flake just told reporters that barring a big change, he will be a yes vote on Kavanaugh’s confirmation tomorrow. |
| Flake and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski have now both confirmed that their cloture votes today – Flake yes, Murkowski no – will be their confirmation votes tomorrow. | Flake and Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski have now both confirmed that their cloture votes today – Flake yes, Murkowski no – will be their confirmation votes tomorrow. |
| That means Kavanaugh’s confirmation will come down to Susan Collins and Joe Manchin, who both voted yes for cloture this morning. Either one voting yes for confirmation will secure Kavanaugh’s place on the court. Collins is expected to announce her decision at 3pm Eastern Time. | That means Kavanaugh’s confirmation will come down to Susan Collins and Joe Manchin, who both voted yes for cloture this morning. Either one voting yes for confirmation will secure Kavanaugh’s place on the court. Collins is expected to announce her decision at 3pm Eastern Time. |
| NEWS: @JeffFlake tells @GarrettHaake he’s a yes on Kavanaugh unless something big changes his final vote. Says he doesn’t see, at this point, what would | NEWS: @JeffFlake tells @GarrettHaake he’s a yes on Kavanaugh unless something big changes his final vote. Says he doesn’t see, at this point, what would |
| Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski told reporters moments ago that she did not make up her mind to vote no on cloture for Kavanaugh’s nomination until she was literally walking in to the chamber this morning. | Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski told reporters moments ago that she did not make up her mind to vote no on cloture for Kavanaugh’s nomination until she was literally walking in to the chamber this morning. |
| “I believe Brett Kavanaugh is a good man,” she said. But he’s “not the right man for the court.” | “I believe Brett Kavanaugh is a good man,” she said. But he’s “not the right man for the court.” |
| MURKOWSKI says she didn’t make up her mind until walking into the vote. “None of this has been fair.” pic.twitter.com/Hy8UdeCyQx | MURKOWSKI says she didn’t make up her mind until walking into the vote. “None of this has been fair.” pic.twitter.com/Hy8UdeCyQx |
| It’s happening: tomorrow the Senate will hold its final confirmation vote for Brett Kavanaugh after voting on Friday to end debate on his supreme court nomination. | It’s happening: tomorrow the Senate will hold its final confirmation vote for Brett Kavanaugh after voting on Friday to end debate on his supreme court nomination. |
| The Senate voted 51-49 on Friday morning to advance Kavanaugh’s nomination to a final floor vote, but signaled their votes were not cast in stone. | The Senate voted 51-49 on Friday morning to advance Kavanaugh’s nomination to a final floor vote, but signaled their votes were not cast in stone. |
| In tomorrow’s vote, eyes will be on Republicans Jeff Flake, of Arizona; Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska and Susan Collins, of Maine. Flake and Collins voted yes for cloture but Flake has been hesitant to offer strong support for Kavanaugh. Collins said she will announce her position on the final vote this afternoon. Murkowski voted no, a big statement, but she could still ultimately endorse Kavanaugh. | In tomorrow’s vote, eyes will be on Republicans Jeff Flake, of Arizona; Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska and Susan Collins, of Maine. Flake and Collins voted yes for cloture but Flake has been hesitant to offer strong support for Kavanaugh. Collins said she will announce her position on the final vote this afternoon. Murkowski voted no, a big statement, but she could still ultimately endorse Kavanaugh. |
| On the Democrat side, the key vote will likely come down to Joe Manchin, a conservative up for re-election in West Virginia. | On the Democrat side, the key vote will likely come down to Joe Manchin, a conservative up for re-election in West Virginia. |
| Donald Trump said he was “proud” of the Senate for advancing the vote. Hours earlier, he accused protestors of being “paid professionals,” without evidence. | Donald Trump said he was “proud” of the Senate for advancing the vote. Hours earlier, he accused protestors of being “paid professionals,” without evidence. |
| Brett Kavanaugh took the unusual step on Thursday of taking the case for his confirmation to the US supreme court to the pages of the Wall Street Journal, admitting his Senate testimony “might have been too emotional” and insisting that he would be impartial if confirmed. | Brett Kavanaugh took the unusual step on Thursday of taking the case for his confirmation to the US supreme court to the pages of the Wall Street Journal, admitting his Senate testimony “might have been too emotional” and insisting that he would be impartial if confirmed. |
| More than 300 protesters, including the comedian Amy Schumer, were arrested at the US Capitol in Washington as they made a final, desperate appeal to senators. | More than 300 protesters, including the comedian Amy Schumer, were arrested at the US Capitol in Washington as they made a final, desperate appeal to senators. |
| A yes today may be a no tomorrow. Or it might stay a yes. | A yes today may be a no tomorrow. Or it might stay a yes. |
| One key senator, Joe Manchin, Democrat from West Virginia, declines to reveal his final position on Kavanaugh after voting yes on cloture. He also said he has a statement coming out soon. | One key senator, Joe Manchin, Democrat from West Virginia, declines to reveal his final position on Kavanaugh after voting yes on cloture. He also said he has a statement coming out soon. |
| Joe Manchin declines to tell reporters whether his “yes” vote to advance Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation means he will support the judge in tomorrow’s final tally. | Joe Manchin declines to tell reporters whether his “yes” vote to advance Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation means he will support the judge in tomorrow’s final tally. |
| The vote is over, but Republicans in the Senate still can’t rest easy. | The vote is over, but Republicans in the Senate still can’t rest easy. |
| Huddle on the floor with McConnell, Rubio, Thune, Cruz, Gardner, Cotton, Risch and Crapo. pic.twitter.com/754L7vOVfs | Huddle on the floor with McConnell, Rubio, Thune, Cruz, Gardner, Cotton, Risch and Crapo. pic.twitter.com/754L7vOVfs |
| Remarkable the amount of uncertainty ahead of such a consequential vote. This is, needless to say, exceedingly rare. Leaders in both parties don’t know what’s going to happen to Kavanaugh’s nomination - namely whether Manchin or Collins vote against the nomination | Remarkable the amount of uncertainty ahead of such a consequential vote. This is, needless to say, exceedingly rare. Leaders in both parties don’t know what’s going to happen to Kavanaugh’s nomination - namely whether Manchin or Collins vote against the nomination |
| Trump has a quick response to the vote. | Trump has a quick response to the vote. |
| Very proud of the U.S. Senate for voting “YES” to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh! | Very proud of the U.S. Senate for voting “YES” to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh! |
| It remains unclear if Donald Trump’s embattled pick for America’s highest court would ultimately have the votes to be confirmed, writes the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui: | It remains unclear if Donald Trump’s embattled pick for America’s highest court would ultimately have the votes to be confirmed, writes the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui: |
| A handful of key senators tipped their hand in Friday’s procedural motion but signaled their votes were not cast in stone. Two of the chamber’s closely watched moderate Republicans, Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine, voted in favor of advancing Kavanaugh, while Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the judge. Joe Manchin, a senator up for re-election in conservative West Virginia, was the lone Democrat to break with his party. | A handful of key senators tipped their hand in Friday’s procedural motion but signaled their votes were not cast in stone. Two of the chamber’s closely watched moderate Republicans, Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine, voted in favor of advancing Kavanaugh, while Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the judge. Joe Manchin, a senator up for re-election in conservative West Virginia, was the lone Democrat to break with his party. |
| “This is one vote that we probably won’t know until the votes are actually cast,” Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, told reporters on Capitol Hill. | “This is one vote that we probably won’t know until the votes are actually cast,” Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, told reporters on Capitol Hill. |
| The uncertainty lingered one day after the FBI completed an investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh, the results of which fell firmly along party lines. Republicans swiftly declared that the FBI’s report, which was shrouded in secrecy and accessed only by senators and a select group of staffers, absolved Kavanaugh of any wrongdoing. | The uncertainty lingered one day after the FBI completed an investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh, the results of which fell firmly along party lines. Republicans swiftly declared that the FBI’s report, which was shrouded in secrecy and accessed only by senators and a select group of staffers, absolved Kavanaugh of any wrongdoing. |
| Democrats meanwhile condemned the investigation – the parameters of which were reportedly set by the White House – as preordained. | Democrats meanwhile condemned the investigation – the parameters of which were reportedly set by the White House – as preordained. |
| The Senate voted 51-49 in favor of the cloture motion, which will bring an end to debate on Kavanaugh’s nomination to the supreme court. | The Senate voted 51-49 in favor of the cloture motion, which will bring an end to debate on Kavanaugh’s nomination to the supreme court. |
| The final vote on his confirmation could happen as early as tomorrow. | The final vote on his confirmation could happen as early as tomorrow. |
| Support for cloture is not equivalent to support for Kavanaugh, so it’s not clear whether or not he will make it through. | Support for cloture is not equivalent to support for Kavanaugh, so it’s not clear whether or not he will make it through. |
| A key senator, Republican Susan Collins of Maine, said she will reveal her plan for the final vote in a speech at 3pm this afternoon. | A key senator, Republican Susan Collins of Maine, said she will reveal her plan for the final vote in a speech at 3pm this afternoon. |