UPDATE, 1330 GMT: I spoke with BBC World Service’s Newshour on Saturday afternoon, beginning with the question, “Was Senator Jeff Flake alone when he voted for a limited FBI investigation of Brett Kavanaugh?”
The chat moves from the role of other undecided Republican senators like Lisa Murkowski to why Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump gave way.
Listen to Discussion
ORIGINAL ENTRY: In a 10-minute interview with BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday night, I spoke about the unexpected developments delaying the Senate vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, with Republicans forced to agree to a one-week FBI investigation of sexual assault allegations by multiple women, and about what happens next.
Listen to Discussion
I believe it was not just Jeff Flake [the key GOP vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee] saying that he wants an investigation. I believe he was speaking on behalf of at least one of the Republican women, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
If the Republicans had a solid majority in the Senate, they could just tell Flake to be on his way. But because they only have a 51-49 edge, they can afford to lose only one vote to confirm Kavanaugh.
TrumpWatch, Day 617: Trump & GOP Back Down Over FBI Investigation of Kavanaugh
We also discuss Donald Trump’s position — “he is wobbling” — the problems for Kavanaugh (“if he is found to be lying, his entire career and reputation crumbles”), and why an FBI investigation is far more significant than any questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
