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President Trump and the Senate Republicans appeared to be on the brink of winning a major political victory on Saturday as Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh appeared on the verge of being closely vindicated by the Senate later in the year. day, after a grueling and often ugly struggle that lasted gripped and divided the nation.
Statements by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) and Senator Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) previously undecided in favor of Kavanaugh on Friday, appeared to give nominees the necessary votes to the room to be confirmed, where Republicans hold a slim majority.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she would vote no, but later she will vote "present" in order to pair with Senator Steve Daines, R-Mont., Who is a "yes" but will not be able to vote because he is attending his daughter's wedding in Montana.
It appeared that Kavanaugh would likely be confirmed by a vote at 50-48 Saturday afternoon, a day after the Senate vote to end debate 51-49.
Anti-Kavanaugh demonstrations appeared to intensify on Friday and Saturday, while Manchin was harassed by protesters who shouted to him "shame, shame, shame" as he announced his intention to vote for Kavanaugh Friday – probably the only Democrat to do it.
THE COLLINS, MANCHIN SAYS 'AYE, & # 39; APPEARING TO THE CONFIRMATION OF KAVANAUGH TO CEMENT
The protests also touched the home of Senate Majority Mitch McConnell in Washington, DC, with protesters holding a so-called "confirmation kegger."
On Saturday, protesters gathered in the Supreme Court and activists chanted "Stand up, turn down women, we crush that" and "we are the majority, the majority is opposed".
About 1,000 protesters marched to the Capitol steps chanting "November is coming" and "we believe in the survivors." Soon, Capitol Hill police started arresting protesters.
Kavanaugh's candidacy had been jeopardized as a result of several sexual assault charges against her, including that of Christine Blasey Ford that Kavanaugh had assaulted her at a high school party in a nightclub. the 1980s.
ACTIVISTS TARGET SUSAN COLLINS AFTER BROKEN VOTING IN KAVANAUGH AND CALL FOR HARASSMENT
Ford and Kavanaugh both testified at a hearing last week. The saga seized the nation and sent the protesters back to Congress. The Democrats vehemently opposed Kavanaugh's candidacy, primarily because of his conservative criminal record and his desire to overthrow Roe v Wade.
But in recent weeks, they have cited not only the allegations of aggression, but also feared that Kavanaugh was lying about his drinking and references in his high school yearbook in his testimony. A number of Senators also objected to Mr. Kavanaugh's aggressive criticism of the handling of aggression complaints against him, where he was visibly angry with them, including participation in collective rapes.
"Beyond the issue of credibility, Justice Kavanaugh presented to the Senate the most bitter testimony I have ever heard from a candidate seeking Senate approval. Whether for the seat or the executive power, "said Friday the leader of the Senate minority Chuck Schumer, D-NY.
Both sides acknowledged that the scenes were ugly, but blamed each other for the show. In his speech, Collins said that the confirmation had looked like a "caricature of a political campaign at the level of the gutters".
In response to calls by Democrats and leftist activists that the allegations were sufficient to withdraw or delay the appointment, the Republicans had backed down.
After Kavanaugh's fierce defense at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Republicans rallied to him. The most important was Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Who published her own speech against the Democrats, accusing them furiously for leading the "most unethical simulacrum ever since I was in politics"
"You all want the power, my God, I hope you will never get it, I hope the American people can see through this simulacrum," he exclaimed.
The White House also rallied alongside Kavanaugh, refusing to give any indication of what she was hesitant about in her appointment and that Trump had defended Kavanaugh's two defenses, as well as attacks on Ford – which he mocked. for his lack of precision in his testimony.
"How did you come home?" I do not remember, "Trump said, mimicking a back-and-forth with Ford. "How did you get here?" I do not remember, "Where is the place?" I do not remember, "How many years ago?" I do not know. I do not know. "In what neighborhood was it? I do not know. Where is the house? I do not know. Upstairs, downstairs – where was it? I do not know – but I drank a beer. That's the only thing I can remember. "
The Republicans conceded at the request of Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz, to request a limited FBI investigation last week. The Democrats had asked for such an investigation of the charges of assault, but they blamed it for not being sufficiently thorough even before it ends at the beginning of the week.
Deborah Ramirez, who accused Kavanaugh of exposing herself to her at a university party, accused the Senate on Saturday of "turning a blind eye" on his charge.
"Only this time, instead of drunken college students, it is the US senators who deliberately ignore his behavior. This is how victims are isolated and silenced, "she said in a statement.
Despite Democrats' protests and furious cries, Republicans felt they had finally won the fight for Kavanaugh's confirmation and were gaining momentum in the mid-term race – believing the Democrats had overtaken and inflamed the Republican base.
Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said in "Cavuto Live" Fox News that she thought Republicans would now take seats in the Senate.
"Yes, absolutely, and I think we will win seats in the United States Senate. We will be stronger through this exercise and I think we can gain momentum in the House. "
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Told The Washington Post that the Democratic and Left Opposition was a "great political gift for us".
"I want to thank the crowd, because it did the only thing we had trouble doing, to revitalize our base," he said.
Chad News' Lauren Lee, Chad Pergram, Lukas Mikelionis and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
