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Kavanaugh Meets With First Senate Dem Willing to Speak With Him

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Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) became the first Senate Democrat to meet with President Trump's Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh Monday afternoon.

While many Senate Democrats have refused to meet the judge until Republicans agree to release documents from Kavanaugh's time in the Bush White House, Manchin has promised to give him "a fair and thorough examination."

Manchin is just one of three Democratic senators who voted in favor of confirming Justice Neil Gorsuch. He tweeted last week that he holds his "constitutional duty to advise and consent on every Presidential nominee to serve on the Supreme Court" very sacred, and said he will "never immediately oppose or support a Supreme Court nominee."

Manchin is one of ten Senate Democrats up for re-election in a state President Trump won in 2016. According to a poll from the North Star Opinion Research a majority of voters in West Virginia (55% to 30%) say they'd like to see the Senate confirm Judge Kavanaugh. The same poll shows a majority of voters in three other states Trump won with Democratic senators, Alabama, Indiana, and North Dakota, also say the Senate should confirm Judge Kavanaugh. 

Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), another vulnerable Democratic senator up for re-election this year, announced he plans to meet with Kavanaugh on August 15.

While Manchin has not publicy shared whether or not he will vote in favor of Kavanaugh, Republicans did inch one step closer to a smooth confirmation process Monday when "honestly undecided" Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) announced after meeting with the judge, he will back him.

"I have decided to support his nomination," said Paul in a statement.

With Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) unable to travel to Washington for health reasons, Republicans need unamimous party support for Kavanaugh in order to confirm him this fall. 

 

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About The Author

Abigail
Robertson

Abigail Robertson serves as the White House Correspondent for CBN News, where she has worked since 2015. As a reporter, Abigail covers stories from a Christian perspective on American politics and the news of the day. Before her role at the White House, Abigail covered Capitol Hill, where she interviewed notable lawmakers such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. During her time on the Hill, Abigail loved highlighting how God is moving in the House and Senate by covering different ministries on Capitol Hill and sharing lawmakers’ testimonies and