GOP Delays Kavanaugh Vote: 'There's Going To Be A Supplemental Background Investigation'
WASHINGTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - Senate Republican leaders have agreed to delay a final vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to allow time for an investigation by the FBI of the sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican, says, "There's going to be a supplemental background investigation," which would delay a vote "no later than one week."
Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called earlier Friday for the FBI to investigate the sexual misconduct claims against Kavanaugh. He said the process should not take longer than a week.
After Flake made that call, the Judiciary Committee sent Kavanaugh's nomination to the full Senate in an 11-10 vote.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said Friday afternoon, "Well I'm pleased the judiciary committee moved forward and reported the Kavanaugh nomination to the floor. That was an important step in overcoming the democratic obstruction we've seen. We have now reached an agreement the, FBI will conduct a supplemental background investigation on the current credible allegations and will make a report to the Senate no later than one week from today. So I look forward to seeing the results of that investigation and to the Senate moving forward and proceeding with the nomination."
A high school friend of Kavanaugh says he will cooperate with any law enforcement agency that will "confidentially investigate" sexual misconduct allegations against him and Kavanaugh.
Mark Judge sent a signed letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday, saying he "categorically" denies sexual misconduct allegations made by Julie Swetnick.
In a sworn statement released Wednesday, Swetnick accused Kavanaugh and Judge of excessive drinking and inappropriate treatment of women in the early 1980s, among other accusations.
Judge says in his letter that he doesn't know Swetnick and does not recall any parties in the early 1980s where he "fondled or grabbed women in an aggressive or unwanted manner."
He says Swetnick's allegations are "so bizarre" and he "would remember actions so outlandish."
Meantime, President Donald Trump says he found Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in high school, "a very credible witness."
Trump told reporters Friday at the White House that he thought Ford's testimony Thursday to the Senate Judiciary Committee "was very compelling" and that "she looks like a very fine woman, very fine woman."
But Trump also says he though Kavanaugh's adamant denial "really something that I hadn't seen before. It was incredible."
Trump called it "an incredible moment I think in the history of our country."
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)