Here’s the latest on what’s going on behind the scenes with Mitch McConnell and the White House regarding the ongoing confirmation battle for SCOUTS nominee Brett Kavanaugh. In summary, it’s no certainty that the Monday hearing even happens and keep your eyes on Cocaine Mitch, whose “priority is the SCOTUS seat, not protecting Kavanaugh every news cycle.”
THREAD==>
(thread) a few dynamics on Kavanaugh, based on my conversations with several top Republicans today… 1. A week is a long, long time in politics and many people involved in Sen and at WH priv. see next Mon's planned hearing as an eon away and still wonder if it'll happen…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 18, 2018
… and there are ongoing debates internally over whether Dr. Ford wants to go through with it, whether Judge Kavanaugh can hold on, and whether the votes in Senate GOP can hold until then. 2. While the WH wants to drive the process, McConnell remains central to everything…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 18, 2018
… McConnell is the one who early on thought Judge Thapar would be best choice, but went along w/ WH. Now, as process cracks open, he's asserting himself even as he remains a team player. Allies tell me his priority is the SCOTUS seat, not protecting Kavanaugh every news cycle.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 18, 2018
3. Don't underestimate the jockeying going on in GOP circles for a post-Kavanaugh world. Advocates for Hardiman, Coney Barrett, Thapar all talking w/ plugged-in friends in Congress or WH, ready for the possibility of further disruption of Kavanaugh nomination between now and Mon.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 18, 2018
4. Kavanaugh's most important ally right now is Don McGahn, the soon-to-be departing WH counsel who has made Kav's confirmation his personal legacy project/swan song, eager to score one last victory for the conservative legal estbmt. Huddled w/ the judge most of Monday…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 18, 2018
5. McGahn's ability to keep a tight grip on the WH side of the Kavanaugh nom. will be tested in coming days. He still has capital w/ POTUS going back to campaign and Gorsuch, but it has been depleted over time… McGahn working closely w. Hill & legal Rs to keep Sen Rs together
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 18, 2018
6. Several GOP consultants who work on Senate races tell me they don't want a hearing, period, at this point in the election year in the #MeToo era. Too charged, too unpredictable, they say. Expect this private grumbling to be heard more publicly as nerves over next Mon grow…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 18, 2018
7. The other concern about next Monday's scheduled hearing among top Rs: the likely blizzard of questions for Kavanaugh about his teenage habits, behavior, alleged drinking during that period, etc. Wld be more than just a "he says, she says" endeavor. Under oath. Unpredictable.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 18, 2018
8. So, you have an on-edge Senate GOP and a WH in defense mode + a president so far typically defensive of his pick, but also watching it all play out… I'll be at Cap on Tuesday to find out more… here's our latest deep dive from late Monday (end) https://t.co/ETIEuFxmpA
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 18, 2018
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Related:
'BREAKING': Statements from Brett Kavanaugh's ex-girlfriends suggest he might have a woman problem AFTER all https://t.co/xwezYAb7DO
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 18, 2018
THUD: Dianne Feinstein rushes to slam GOP response to Kavanaugh allegations, trips over… herself https://t.co/j6rjdnjxEr
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 18, 2018
They REFUSED? Looks like the Dems aren't really that interested in the truth about Brett Kavanaugh https://t.co/LbX1QjgssW
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 18, 2018
ICYMI ==> OUCH! Mitch McConnell HAMMERS Dianne Feinstein & Dems' over handling of Kavanaugh allegation https://t.co/W0Qm5Ayyf3
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 18, 2018