美國參議院或在本週六就大法官人選投票
The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill an open seat on the U.S. Supreme Court is moving toward a final vote as early as Saturday.
First though, senators are on Thursday reviewing an FBI report on sexual harassment allegations Kavanaugh dated back to his teenager years.
Kavanaugh has denied the accusations.
The sharp partisan battle over the lifetime appointment to the nine-member court has polarized the U.S. Senate with the majority Republicans accusing Democrats of dragging out the process, while Democrats accuse Republicans are rushing to confirm Kavanaugh.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley said early Thursday the panel had received the FBI investigation report on these allegations. The report is confidential and senators will be allowed to read it in a special secure room in the Capitol. It is not clear what, if any, of the material will be made public.
the White House revealed it received and reviewed interview transcripts from the FBI. Officials claim the documents do not support one of the accusers, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's claims of attempted rape by Kavanaugh 36 years ago.
The White House said that after the “most comprehensive review of a Supreme Court nominee in history,” it is “fully confident” Kavanaugh will be confirmed.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced he will then proceed with what is known as a cloture vote to officially end debate about Kavanaugh's nomination. That procedural vote could happen as early as Friday morning and set up a final vote potentially Saturday.
Republicans hold a slight 51-49 majority in the Senate, and with Vice President Mike Pence playing the role of tie-breaker if necessary, they would need a minimum of 50 votes to confirm Kavanaugh.
If confirmed, Kavanaugh — an appellate judge and judicial conservative — would replace retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. The nine-member court is currently operating with eight justices.通過美國最高法院大法官的提名人選佈雷特-卡瓦諾任命的最終投票可能早在週六進行。
不過在那之前，參議員們週四要審閱聯邦調查局針對卡瓦諾在青少年時期性騷擾指控的調查報告。
卡瓦諾堅決否認這些指控。
這次對最高法院終身大法官的任命引起參議院內激烈黨派爭端，多數派的共和黨人指責民主黨人拖延這一程序，而民主黨人指責共和黨人急於投票確認。
參議院司法委員會主席格拉斯利週四早些時候表示，該委員會已收到聯調局的調查報告。報告是保密的，參議員將獲准在國會大廈內一間特設保安的房間閱讀。目前還不清楚報告的任何內容會公佈。
白宮表示已收到聯調局的訪談記錄。有關官員稱這些文件不支持控告者之一、克莉絲汀·布萊西·福特博士聲稱卡瓦諾在36年前曾企圖強姦她的指控。
白宮表示，在“對有史以來最高法院提名人的最全面的審查”之後，“完全有信心”卡瓦諾的提名將得到確認。
參議院多數黨領袖麥康納爾宣佈接下來將進行所謂的完成投票，正式結束對瓦諾提名進行的辯論。程序性投票最早可能在星期五早上進行，並可能在星期六進行最終投票。
共和黨人在參議院中佔據51-49的多數席位，如果有必要，副總統彭斯將投下決定性一票，共和黨人需要至少50票確認卡瓦諾的提名。
如果卡瓦諾得到確認，這位上訴法官和司法保守派將取代已退休的最高法院大法官肯尼迪。目前9名成員組成的最高法院前有8名法官。
