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| Brett Kavanaugh: Susan Collins says she will vote yes to confirm nominee – live updates | Brett Kavanaugh: Susan Collins says she will vote yes to confirm nominee – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A crowdfunding campaign for Susan Collins’ opponent has now raised over $2m. The donations came pouring in as the Republican senator, a key undecided vote, gave a lengthy speech this afternoon announcing her decision to vote for Kavanaugh. | |
| As #Collins speaks fund to get her out of office ticks up to close to $2m https://t.co/q124HCKZfz | |
| It appeared that there has been so much web traffic to the donation site that the page has temporarily crashed. | |
| The website crowdfunding Collins' 2020 opponent has crashed. https://t.co/Q0HJXy0nEY https://t.co/rG4EuqzoR1 | |
| With Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Susan Collins both declaring their intention to vote for Kavanaugh, it appears the judge is on track to have the votes he needs to be confirmed. After a procedural vote advanced the nomination earlier in the day, the final vote is expected on Saturday. | |
| The confirmation was already set to be finalized with Collins’ vote, which would likely have put vice president Mike Pence in a position to break a tie. Now, it appears all but certain that Kavanaugh will be confirmed. | |
| Another dramatic protest is unfolding around senator Joe Manchin, the Democrat who has announced he is voting to confirm Kavanaugh. People are chanting “Look at us! Look at us!” and “Shame!” as he speaks to reporters. | |
| "Look at us! Look at us!" protesters chant at Sen. Joe Manchin, who just announced he will vote "yes" to confirm Brett Kavanaugh https://t.co/8EWF2wqHkd pic.twitter.com/lsUbPTqtEt | |
| Quite a remarkable scene that was just broadcast on @MSNBC. Joe Manchin was speaking to reporters and, in the background, protesters were loudly chanting "Shame! Shame!" and "Look at us! Look at us!" as he spoke. | |
| Asked about whether he believed the FBI investigation was adequate, he said: | |
| There’s always more that could’ve been done ... I looked at what was in front of me, and I had to make a decision.” | |
| Sam Levin here, continuing our live coverage of Kavanaugh’s confirmation fight. | |
| Democratic senator Joe Manchin, considered the last “undecided” senator, has just announced that he is voting to confirm Kavanaugh. He said in a statement: | |
| I have reservations about this vote given the serious accusations against Judge Kavanaugh and the temperament he displayed in the hearing. However, based on all of the information I have available to me, including the recently completed FBI report, I have found Judge Kavanaugh to be a qualified jurist who will follow the Constitution and determine cases based on the legal findings before him.” | |
| NEW: Dem Sen Joe Manchin to back Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation pic.twitter.com/IZTTwKff8G | |
| The announcement came shortly after Republican senator Susan Collins also said she would be voting to confirm in a lengthy speech. | |
| After lengthy remarks in defense of his nomination, Collins confirms she’ll vote along party lines. | After lengthy remarks in defense of his nomination, Collins confirms she’ll vote along party lines. |
| Collins is 40 minutes into her remarks. | Collins is 40 minutes into her remarks. |
| She is taking to task whoever leaked Christine Blasey Ford’s letter, but says she does not believe that person is senator Dianne Fienstein, whose office received the letter. | She is taking to task whoever leaked Christine Blasey Ford’s letter, but says she does not believe that person is senator Dianne Fienstein, whose office received the letter. |
| Now she is talking about algorithms and how they help people read articles that confirm their biases. | Now she is talking about algorithms and how they help people read articles that confirm their biases. |
| “The allegations fail to meet the more-likely-than-not standard,” Collins says. | “The allegations fail to meet the more-likely-than-not standard,” Collins says. |
| “I do not believe that these charges can fairly prevent judge Kavanaugh from serving on the supreme court.” | “I do not believe that these charges can fairly prevent judge Kavanaugh from serving on the supreme court.” |
| Collins says every person who makes a claim of sexual assault deserves to be heard. “The MeToo movement is real,” she says, with emphasis. | Collins says every person who makes a claim of sexual assault deserves to be heard. “The MeToo movement is real,” she says, with emphasis. |
| She says since the hearing she has listened to many survivors of sexual assault. | She says since the hearing she has listened to many survivors of sexual assault. |
| Very hard now to understand what it was Collins was undecided about all this time. She has firmly rejected virtually every single potential reason or pretext for voting against Kavanaugh. | Very hard now to understand what it was Collins was undecided about all this time. She has firmly rejected virtually every single potential reason or pretext for voting against Kavanaugh. |
| Collins is addressing Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation of sexual assault against Kavanaugh. | Collins is addressing Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation of sexual assault against Kavanaugh. |
| She said the “presumption of innocence” and due process weigh on her thinking. | She said the “presumption of innocence” and due process weigh on her thinking. |
| “We must always remember that it is when passions are most inflamed that fairness is most in jeopardy,” she says. | “We must always remember that it is when passions are most inflamed that fairness is most in jeopardy,” she says. |
| She says some of the allegations against Kavanaugh “illustrate why the presumption of innocence” is so important, specifically an allegation that Kavanaugh committee gang rape. He denies the allegation. | She says some of the allegations against Kavanaugh “illustrate why the presumption of innocence” is so important, specifically an allegation that Kavanaugh committee gang rape. He denies the allegation. |
| Collins says Ford’s testimony was “sincere, painful and compelling.” | Collins says Ford’s testimony was “sincere, painful and compelling.” |
| And she believes Ford is a victim of sexual assault. | And she believes Ford is a victim of sexual assault. |
| But Collins has questions about Ford’s story and the witness testimonies. | But Collins has questions about Ford’s story and the witness testimonies. |
| Now onto Roe v Wade - Collins says it is important to keep in place this pivotal 1973 supreme court ruling to legalize abortion. | Now onto Roe v Wade - Collins says it is important to keep in place this pivotal 1973 supreme court ruling to legalize abortion. |
| She explains all the reasons she thinks Kavanaugh is not a threat to Roe v Wade - an interesting argument from a Republican. | She explains all the reasons she thinks Kavanaugh is not a threat to Roe v Wade - an interesting argument from a Republican. |
| She says Republicans have been saying their supreme court nominee would end Roe v Wade for decades and it hasn’t happened yet. | She says Republicans have been saying their supreme court nominee would end Roe v Wade for decades and it hasn’t happened yet. |
| Susan Collins, paraphrased: The GOP platform is lying about overturning abortion. | Susan Collins, paraphrased: The GOP platform is lying about overturning abortion. |
| Meanwhile ... | Meanwhile ... |
| Important rebuttal to what @SenatorCollins is saying now on floor of Senate about Kavanaugh and Roe v. Wade 👇🏼 https://t.co/biknLJbs2y | Important rebuttal to what @SenatorCollins is saying now on floor of Senate about Kavanaugh and Roe v. Wade 👇🏼 https://t.co/biknLJbs2y |
| Collins says she has spoken to Kavanaugh privately for several hours. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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.” | 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. | Collins sent a press alert confirming she would speak at 3:05pm. |
| It’s 3:08pm ... and she should be speaking momentarily. | It’s 3:08pm ... and she should be speaking momentarily. |
| Protestors, however, are shouting in the galleries. | 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!" | 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. | 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. | “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. |