Senate panel backs Trump’s Supreme Court pick Kavanaugh

The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday voted to send the nomination of President Donald Trump’s US Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh to the full Senate for consideration, with one hold-out Republican calling for an FBI probe into sexual assault allegations against the nominee before a final vote is held.

The panel moved the federal judge’s nomination to the full Senate on a party-line vote of 11-10, with all Republicans in support, and all Democrats opposed.

The vote came just a day after Republicans heard testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were teens. Kavanaugh denied the accusation.

The concerns expressed by Republican Senator Jeff Flake could imperil the nomination if an FBI investigation is not launched.

More soon…