While it was difficult for Americans to see the Senate Judiciary Committee so divided and the tone "so partisan" on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation, it was encouraging that Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., called for an FBI investigation into the allegations, Sen. Chris Coons said Friday.
"What I am encouraged by is that in an anteroom back hall conversation first with Sen. Flake and then with Sen. (Dianne) Feinstein and then with many other senators of both parties, there was a broad agreement that this committee has been too divided and too partisan in this process," Coons, D-Del., told reporters.
The investigation would give Kavanaugh some hope of having his name cleared before a final vote, while allowing committee and Senate members to be more confident before moving on to a final vote, Coons added.
He pointed out that he doesn't control the FBI or whether more allegations of sexual assault will be levied against Kavanaugh, but he is grateful to Flake and others saying they are not comfortable in proceeding without more investigation.
Coons added that he's had some conversations in recent days with colleagues that there could be a further investigation, and he rejected the idea was reached in order to keep Kavanaugh's confirmation from happening until after the November midterm elections.
"My goal is to simply encourage a number of friends and colleagues in pressing for the FBI to consider seriously the allegations that are before it," said Coons.
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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