Senate Panel Plans to Vote Friday on Kavanaugh

Republican senators say the Judiciary Committee plans to vote at 9:30 a.m. Friday on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the second ranking-Republican, had said Thursday that the GOP conference would meet and "see where we are." After meeting, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said, "There will be a vote tomorrow morning."

Fox News reported that the first floor vote to debate the nomination is scheduled for Saturday, a voted to end floor debate and overcome a filibuster would be Monday, with a confirmation vote on Tuesday.

Kavanaugh and a woman accusing him of sexual assault, California psychologist Christine Blasey  Ford, spent hours testifying Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Ford told senators that one night in the summer of 1982, a drunken Kavanaugh forced her down on a bed, groped her and tried to take off her clothes. Kavanaugh, testifying second, forcefully denied the accusation and said he's never sexually assaulted anyone.

A Democratic senator who is undecided onKavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court says she needs to "fully digest" the committee hearing on a sexual assault allegation against him.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota praised the "courage" of Christine Blasey Ford, who testified to the Senate that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in a bedroom when they were teens. Kavanaugh in his own testimony denied ever sexually assaulting anyone.

Heitkamp also said it was important that the Senate Judiciary Committee heard Kavanaugh's side of the story.

She stressed that a nonpartisan FBI investigation should be conducted to "bring greater clarity" to Ford's claim and Kavanaugh's denial.

Heitkamp is running for re-election this year in a state where President Donald Trump is popular, and she is under pressure over her vote on Kavanaugh. She is facing Rep. Kevin Cramer in a race seen as critical for Republicans' chances to keep the Senate.

A lawyer for Mark Judge says he "does not recall the events" described by Ford during her dramatic testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Ford accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a gathering more than 30 years ago. She says Kavanaugh's classmate Judge was in the bedroom when the assault took place.

Judge's lawyer, Barbara Van Gelder, said Thursday that he "does not want to comment about these events publicly" and "will not respond to any media inquiries."

Van Gelder says Judge "is willing to answer written questions, and he has. In addition, he is willing to participate in a confidential, fact-finding investigation."

Kavanaugh has denied Ford's allegation.