Brett Kavanaugh's Chances Just Got a Lot Better

The early reaction of two pivotal GOP senators to the FBI's new Brett Kavanaugh investigation sounds like good news for the Supreme Court nominee. “We’ve seen no additional corroborating information," said Jeff Flake after being briefed on the 46-page report. And Susan Collins said "it appears to be a very thorough investigation," although she added that she still planned to read the report herself, reports Politico. If both of those senators were to vote yes on the nomination—and assuming none of the previously pro-Kavanaugh Republicans change their mind, which looks unlikely—that would be enough to secure confirmation, notes the New York Times. A vote is on track to take place Saturday.

Reaction elsewhere has been along predictable party lines, with Republicans saying the report is sound and Democrats saying the investigation was too limited to be useful. “What I can say is the most notable part of this report is what’s not in it,” said Democrat Dianne Feinstein. “It now appears that (the White House) also blocked the FBI from doing its job.” That's countered by Charles Grassley, chair of the Judiciary Committee, who asserts that "the investigation found no hint of misconduct, and the same is true of the six prior FBI background investigations conducted during Judge Kavanaugh’s 25 years of public service." President Trump agrees, tweeting, "If we made it 100, it would still not be good enough for the Obstructionist Democrats." North Dakota's Heidi Heitkamp, one of the few Democratic senators who'd been undecided on Kavanaugh, announced Thursday she will vote no. (More Brett Kavanaugh stories.)