Key GOP Senator Signals Support for FBI Investigation into Allegations Against Kavanaugh
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is under a lot of pressure from home to oppose the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. That pressure is a large result not of Kavanaugh’s character, but of his politics. The Native Alaskan population, in particular, is unanimously opposed to him, and coincidentally, Murkowski largely owes them for her Senate seat.
So Murkowski has all the cover she needs to oppose this nominee, and it looks like she’s going to use it.
I just asked Sen. Lisa Murkowski, key GOP swing vote, if there should be a full FBI investigation into allegations… https://t.co/Csm0VdRLWz— Manu Raju (@Manu Raju) 1537884563
Mitch McConnell can afford to lose her one vote, provided he’s got everybody else. But as of now, he doesn’t have everyone else. That could give Murkowski more power here, if she intends to press this.
An FBI investigation is the obvious course here, were the Senate Judiciary Committee or the Senate as a whole a valid institutional thing anymore. Murkowski can’t turn that around singlehandedly, but she potentially could get some of her colleagues on board, like Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Susan Collins (R-ME) who both desperately need good ways to get out of the spot they’re now in.
