House Democrats infiltrated the Senate Judiciary Committee’s meeting to protest Kavanaugh


The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines Friday morning to move ahead with a vote on embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The committee vote is scheduled for Friday afternoon; if the panel advances his nomination, as it is expected to do along party lines, a full Senate vote is expected to be held in the coming days.
Committee Democrats, including Sens. Kamala Harris (Calif.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), walked out of the meeting in protest of the majority's barreling forth with Kavanaugh's nomination. But while the Democratic side of the dais remained partly empty, the party's presence was bolstered on the perimeters of the room, where Democratic members of the House stood in protest of the proceedings.
With Republican Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) confirming his support for Kavanaugh earlier Friday, the nominee is all but expected to be confirmed. Read more about how the Supreme Court battle has exposed American politics at its worst here at The Week.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellation
Cartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop scene
In the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein