Senate Judiciary Committee to formally request White House order an FBI probe

It looks like Republican Sen. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) will get his wish.

The Senate Judiciary Committee said Friday afternoon that it will ask the White House to request an FBI probe into the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, therefore delaying the vote on his confirmation, per HuffPost's Ryan J. Reilly. The committee said it would allow up to a week for the FBI to conduct its supplemental background investigation.

The move came after Flake, a key swing vote in the confirmation process, said he would only be comfortable voting for Kavanaugh's confirmation in the full floor vote if the bureau investigated the accusations. The investigation, per the committee's release, will be "limited to current credible allegations." Christine Blasey Ford testified under oath Thursday that Kavanaugh forcibly groped her and attempted to rape her in the 1980s; Kavanaugh denied the claim, also under oath. Two more women have come forward to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.

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It was not initially clear whether Flake's request would be met, as a delay would require Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) approval, while an FBI investigation would require President Trump's order. But following the Senate Judiciary Committee's dramatic vote Friday on Kavanaugh's nomination, CNN reports that key Republicans met with McConnell to work out an agreement.

As The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim ‏points out, the Anita Hill FBI probe lasted three days. A procedural vote to move Kavanaugh's nomination forward will still take place Saturday, as originally planned, CNN's Ashley Killough reports.