WASHINGTON — Prior to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing Thursday regarding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was undecided on the nomination and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was in support.
Nothing changed after more than eight hours of testimony.
Kavanaugh and California professor Christine Blasey Ford testified before the committee about accusations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Ford when the two were teenagers.
Manchin and Capito held separate meetings with Kavanaugh in July regarding his nomination to the high court.
Manchin has refused to take a position on Kavanaugh, instead wanting to wait until after the hearings and a second meeting with the federal judge to make a decision.
After the hearing concluded, a Manchin aide told MetroNews there was “no comment.”
“Senator Manchin remains undecided on Judge Kavanaugh,” Manchin communications director Jonathan Kott later said. “Any tweets to the contrary are false and not from any sources familiar with Senator Manchin.”
Capito has been a supporter of Kavanaugh since her meeting this summer.
“Senator Capito has been supportive of Judge Kavanaugh throughout the confirmation process, and that has not changed,” a spokesperson said.
Manchin, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski met privately after the hearing. According to POLITICO, Manchin gave no indication about how each senator will vote.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote Friday morning on the nomination. A procedural vote could be held Saturday.