WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has ordered a new FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations involving Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The move followed a proposal from Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which was backed by multiple senators who are undecided on Kavanaugh.
Kavanaugh and California professor Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Judiciary Committee on Thursday regarding accusations Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Ford when the two were teenagers.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., supports a one-week delay on the confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh as a new poll shows a majority of state residents support confirmation.
Manchin, who has repeatedly said he’s undecided on how he’ll vote, released a statement Friday afternoon before the president’s decision supporting Flake’s proposal.
Flake’s proposal for the delay was made before the Senate Judiciary Committee took a vote to forward the nomination to the full Senate. The committee supported the nomination in an 11-10 vote.
Manchin released the following statement Friday afternoon:
“I applaud Senator Jeff Flake’s decision to rise above the partisan circus on display during this entire process. It took courage to take a stand and call for a one-week FBI investigation to get to the bottom of the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh. This has been a partisan and divisive process. The American people have been pulled apart by this entire spectacle and we need to take time to address these claims independently, so that our country can have confidence in the outcome of this vote. It is what is right and fair for Dr. Ford, Judge Kavanaugh, and the American people.”
Public Opinion Strategies, conducting the poll for the Judicial Crisis Network, called 722 West Virginia voters Thursday evening and 58 percent supported the confirmation of Kavanaugh, 28 percent did not. The poll’s margin of error is 3.65 points.
Among Republicans, the support is 81 percent in favor while 45 percent of Democrats polled are against the confirmation and 42 percent in favor.
Manchin’s vote is expected to be one of the key votes. Manchin, who has already had one meeting with Kavanaugh, has previously said he planned to meet with Kavanaugh after the confirmation hearings.
Ford testified Thursday that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982. She said she thought he was going to accidentally kill her when he placed his hand over her mouth. Kavanaugh vehemently denied all claims in his testimony.
A plurality of those who participated in the Thursday night poll said Manchin’s vote on Kavanaugh would make no difference on whether they would or would not vote for him in his Nov. 6 reelection bid.
The Public Opinion Strategies poll also shows more women, 52 percent, found Kavanaugh more believable than Ford, 36 percent.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., 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 Thursday night.
Manchin’s opponent, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, criticized Manchin in a tweet Friday for holding out on how he’ll vote.
“He’s waiting until the outcome is effectively decided before he reveals his vote,” Morrisey tweeted.
The Judicial Crisis Network has made millions of dollars of ad buys in several keys states in support of the Kavanaugh nomination including West Virginia.
What you need to know about West Virginia & midterms. @BradMcElhinny explains. #LocalMattersCBS https://t.co/6ZMKAUrwzV
— ReenaCBS (@reenaninan) September 30, 2018
