The day after the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's alleged sexual assault, the same committee convened to vote on whether or not Trump's pick to replace outgoing justice Anthony Kennedy should be brought to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and other Democrats on the committee weren't here for voting on the matter so soon after the hearing. Harris and her fellow Democrats have called for an FBI investigation into the three known allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh, and continued those calls before the vote, according to McClatchy.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) refused to delay the vote. As he called roll, Harris remained silent and shook her head. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) did the same. All eight Democrats voted "no."
“They’re refusing to vote because this is so unfair, Mr. Chairman,” Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said.
Ahead of the vote, Democrats cornered potential swing vote Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to try to convince him to join them in voting "no." Flake announced he'd vote "yes" Friday morning, but after he was confronted by emotional survivors of sexual assault in a Hill elevator, he said he'd vote "no" on the Senate floor unless the confirmation process is slowed down, The Hill reports.
Harris, along with her staff, walked out of the room in protest. She was followed by fellow Democrats Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
“This hearing is a sham and Dr. Ford and the American people deserve better,” Harris said after walking out.
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
We are talking about putting Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court for a lifetime. For the sake of our democracy and the integrity of our democracy, you would think that members of the U.S. Senate would say there’s enough here to push pause — let’s reflect on what we’re about to do.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 28, 2018
"Hope can't be lost. We can never lose hope. We certainly can never lose the fight," Harris told ABC News on the Hill after the vote. "My message to my friends and family of San Francisco is let's just stay vocal, let's stay active, let all of our voices be heard. That's part of the beauty of what happened. Dr. Ford was not going to be suppressed or silenced. She had the courage to let her voice be heard. Let her be an inspiration to the rest of us."
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