The US Senate Judiciary Committee never voted for an FBI investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, when advanced the Supreme Court confirmation vote to the full senate.
Expert use of procedure by Senator Chuck Grassley was used to fast-track the key committee vote on Kavanaugh, while Democrats were caught off guard. They were still returning to the committee room after negotiating with Flake in a side room when the session began.
Grassley quickly counted a quorum and moved the vote on the Kavanaugh nomination but he used a point of privilege to allow Flake to speak to the motion.
Democrats mistakenly believed Flake was moving an amendment to the motion to ensure an FBI investigation but Grassley called for a vote on the main motion, advancing Kavanaugh's nomination to the senate floor.
Democrat ranking member Diane Feinstein had to ask Grassley during the vote what they were voting on, as the committee held its key Kavanaugh vote.
"I think we do need this investigation. In fact, I sort of misunderstood Senator Flake. What you were doing, I though it included a one week investigation. So I would like to support the motion for that investigation," Feinstein said. "Does your amendment include continuing the investigation during this period of time."
"There is no amendment," Sen Flake replied.
"Sen Flake has made clear what it would take him to be comfortable on a final passage vote, but It doesn't matter what we say here, this will be up to Senator Schumer and Senator McConnell," Senator Graham explained.
Senator Grassley could not say whether the full Senate would vote on Kavanaugh's nomination before any potential FBI investigation was completed.
He used the two-hour rule to abruptly adjourn the committee.after the vote had been taken. "WHAT?," Feinstein reacted. She later complaining that a vote for the non-existent amendment had been interrupted.
Watch video from 4.09.21
