Two Democrats refused to vote on a motion to advance Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination, and multiple Democrats serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee walked out on the proceedings directly after the vote.
Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris refused to answer when they were asked to vote yay or nay on a motion to schedule a Kavanaugh vote for later in the day. When Booker’s name was called, he shook his head. Harris merely stared at Chairman Chuck Grassley with her hand on her chin.
“They are not answering because this is so unfair, Mr. Chairman,” their colleague Amy Klobuchar explained.
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After the motion passed, confirming a 1:30 p.m. EST vote time for Friday, Harris, Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono left the room in protest. Harris tweeted soon after, “Moments ago I walked out of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Kavanaugh. This hearing is a sham and Dr. Ford and the American people deserve better.”
Moments ago I walked out of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Kavanaugh. This hearing is a sham and Dr. Ford and the American people deserve better.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 28, 2018
Several Senate Democrats on the Judiciary panel walk out of the committee executive meeting after a motion to hold the vote later today is approved. pic.twitter.com/BgcxHCA1EO
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 28, 2018
She was soon joined by other Democrat members of the committee, who rushed to give interviews to waiting press.
FOX NEWS ALERT: Several Senate Democrats walk out of Committee meeting on Kavanaugh nomination pic.twitter.com/Cu2BurS5DC
— America's Newsroom (@AmericaNewsroom) September 28, 2018
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) walks out of the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting to vote on the nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2018. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert – RC198B0012C0
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) takes off his jacket after the Democrats walked out in protest from the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting to vote on the nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, September 28, 2018. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert