Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced she will not be voting for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh while speaking on the Senate floor Friday night.
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“Mr. President, I think we saw from the vote earlier today, we’ve seen from statements from several of our colleagues that it does appear that Judge Kavanaugh will be seated on the Supreme Court without my vote,” Murkowski stated. “It is my hope, it is truly my hope that Judge Kavanaugh will share that same hope in rebuilding, maintaining a level of public confidence, that he will strive for that ideal every day.”
She continued, “I believe that Judge Kavanaugh is a good man. He’s a good man. He’s clearly a learned judge. But in my conscious, because that’s how I have to vote, end of the day, is with my conscious, I could not conclude that he is the right person for the court at this time. And this has been agonizing for me with this decision.”
Her decision not to vote to confirm Kavanaugh comes hours after her Republican swing vote colleague Senator Susan Collins made the opposite decision.
“I do not believe that these charges can fairly prevent Judge Kavanaugh from serving on the Court,” Collins said, referring to Dr. Ford allegations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh. (RELATED: Kavanaugh Has The Votes: Key Lawmakers Back Embattled Nominee, Ensuring Confirmation)
Murkowski is one of only two Senators to defy party lines with their vote on Kavanaugh. The other is Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. He announced his support for Kavanaugh as he’s facing a tough reelection battle in a state that President Trump won convincingly two years ago. (RELATED: Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin Will Vote To Confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh)
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