Kavanaugh stumbles when he discussed when he was discussing the Mueller probe

Nearly 12 hours after Brett Kavanaugh's Senate confirmation hearing, Kamala Harris began with an exciting question: Has the Supreme Court candidate ever discussed Robert Mueller's investigation with a Kasowitz lawyer? Benson & Torres?

"Be sure of your answer, sir," Harris Kavanaugh asked. "I'm not sure I know all the members of this law firm," said California Democrat – a former attorney known for his tenacious questions and priorities on his party's shortlist for 2020. not to give up .

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"How can you not remember if you had a conversation about Robert Mueller or his investigation with anyone in this law firm?" Harris asked, suggesting that Kavanaugh "thought of someone and you do not want to tell us. "

The moment was striking, with one of the Democratic Party's newest leaders engaging in a highly respected Trump name with roots in the GOP's hard politics. But Harris passed the question in minutes, transforming what seemed like a chance to put Kavanaugh on the mystery – and a significant downside risk.

Harris offered no other context for his series of questions with Kavanaugh, suggesting that he could have discussed a Trump investigation with Trump-related lawyers, but that he had no solid evidence.

The only explanation for the back and forth came from a Democratic aid worker speaking under the guise of anonymity, who said late Wednesday that some party members "have reason to believe that a conversation has taken place and that they continue to pursue it. "

If tangible evidence of this conversation does not appear, Harris and his fellow Democrats are likely to face serious questions from the GOP as to whether their attempt to impose Kavanaugh was nothing more than a game of trap.

A Republican, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, jumped to the defense of the judge after Harris began his opaque but stubborn questions, noting that the large number of lawyers with whom he normally interacted made the issue difficult to answer.

Marc Kasowitz, founder of Kasowitz, briefly represented Trump in Mueller's investigation last year before retiring and continued to represent the president in a defamation suit against him by Summer Zervos. The company has represented Trump in several other cases over the last decade.

And it's a large company, with over 250 lawyers on staff, to whom Harris may have referred. Other clues could emerge as early as next week, with the California Democrat declaring at the hearing that she would follow up in the form of written questions for Kavanaugh.

These questions must be submitted to the committee on Monday.