Kavanaugh chances rise after Republicans react to FBI report

(CNN) — Brett Kavanaugh’s chances of reaching the Supreme Court appeared to get a significant boost Thursday as key Republican senators reacted positively to the results of a new FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations against him.

The White House and Senate Republican leaders swiftly moved to build momentum behind President Donald Trump’s pick after senators got the chance to view the supplemental FBI background check. The inquiry was re-opened after a contentious Judiciary Committee hearing last week in which Christine Blasey Ford publicly alleged Kavanaugh assaulted her when they were high schoolers in the 1980s.

There were early indications that the results of the inquiry could provide several wavering Republicans senators with the political cover they need to support Kavanaugh, even though they faced intense pressure in the shifting politics of the #MeToo era to lend Ford’s allegation more credibility. Kavanaugh has denied all allegations against him.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who Kavanaugh’s critics hope could be persuaded to break with her party, did not say how she would vote. But she said: “It appears to be a very thorough investigation.” Collins is torn between backing the nominee of her own party and siding with voters who see Ford as an emblem for women who have long fought for allegations they made against powerful men to be heard.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who worked last week to force the FBI probe, told CNN that “we’ve seen no additional corroborating information” regarding the allegations. Another key Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, has yet to comment — though she has an independent streak and is not a guaranteed vote for her party.

Democrats, who lack the votes to thwart Kavanaugh’s nomination, sought to play up concerns with the scope of the FBI investigation in a potential last-minute effort to convince the undecided Republicans or to shape the post-confirmation political battle which has emerged as a dominant issue in the midterm elections in five weeks.

“It looks to be a product of an incomplete investigation that was limited, perhaps by the White House,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, told reporters.

Two Democrats facing re-election races in states that Trump won easily two years ago, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, also have a tough political choice to make.

McConnell seizes the moment

Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can only lose one of his senators and still confirm Kavanaugh — but quickly took to the Senate floor once senators began viewing the report to build a head of steam behind the judge.

“The facts do not support the allegations levied at Judge Kavanaugh’s character. Instead, many of the facts actually support Judge Kavanaugh’s strong unequivocal denial,” McConnell said.

The FBI, however, is not tasked with drawing conclusions, and only provided the White House with summaries of the interviews it conducted. The report is not being released to the public and senators were only allowed to view the single copy in a secure room in the US Capitol.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley accused Democrats of constantly “moving the goalposts” and also indicated that he thought the confirmation process was back on track.

“I have a real good feeling,” he said. “I feel because there was no corroboration of allegations, there’s really nothing new to talk to you about,” he told reporters.

Unpredictable process

While Thursday’s events appeared to help Kavanaugh, the confirmation process has been so unpredictable that it would be almost surprising if there is not another twist in the next few days.

The showdown has revealed the gaping divide in America between conservatives and liberals who saw the events surrounding the confirmation struggle in exactly opposite ways. The long-term impact of US politics and society of Ford’s testimony, Trump’s public attacks on her and the politicizing of the court will take months to play out.

The week since Kavanaugh and Ford testified before the Judiciary Committee has heightened tensions and mistrust between Democrats and Republicans over the nomination, which can cement a decades-long conservative majority on the Supreme Court.

Trump believes that confirming Kavanaugh under such circumstances could boost Republican turnout in the midterm elections, but it also seems certain to further alienate women voters in the #MeToo era in a way that could help Democrats.

“The harsh and unfair treatment of Judge Brett Kavanaugh is having an incredible upward impact on voters. The PEOPLE get it far better than the politicians,” Trump tweeted Thursday morning. “Most importantly, this great life cannot be ruined by mean & despicable Democrats and totally uncorroborated allegations!”

“We feel very confident that when the senators have an opportunity to review this material, as they’re just beginning to right now, that they’re going to be comfortable voting for Judge Kavanaugh,” White House spokesman Raj Shah said on CNN’s “New Day.”

The FBI report was delivered to the committee in a sealed box at 2:30 a.m. ET, according to a committee source, who also told CNN that it was placed in a vault that already holds Kavanaugh’s six other background investigation reports.

Senators and nine staff members will be the only people who can review the full report. There is one copy in a secure room on Capitol Hill. Phones are not allowed and any notes taken must be left in the room. Democrats and Republicans will alternate control of the room and document every hour.