Key centrist Democrat calls for postponing Kavanaugh vote

Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), one of the Senate Democrats considered most likely to vote for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, says action on the judge should be postponed pending review of an attempted sexual assault allegation against the nominee. 

“The allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh are serious and merit further review. Given the nature of these allegations, and the number of outstanding questions, I believe the Judiciary Committee should hold off on Thursday’s scheduled vote,” Donnelly said in a statement. 

{mosads}Donnelly’s opposition to holding a committee vote on Kavanaugh this Thursday is significant because he was one of only three Senate Democrats to vote for Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Trump’s first nominee to the court. 

Donnelly, who is facing a tough reelection in a state that Trump won by double digits in 2016, has been seen as a possible “yes” vote on Kavanaugh along with two other Democrats who also face tough reelection races in November.

Kavanaugh appeared to be cruising to confirmation until an allegation publicly surfaced last week that he attempted to sexually assault a 15-year-old girl at the end of his junior year at Georgetown Preparatory School.