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Trump Yields to Senate on Proposal to Delay Kavanaugh Vote

President doesn’t seem to be aware that decision to order FBI investigation is his

President Donald Trump waves to the media while welcoming Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, to the White House on Friday. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump waves to the media while welcoming Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, to the White House on Friday. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump said Friday he will let the Senate work through Republican Sen. Jeff Flake’s proposal of a one week delay to allow the FBI to look into the allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

“I’m going to let the Senate handle that and they do a good job,” the president said, admitting he had only heard only bits and pieces because he had been in a meeting at the White House with his Chilean counterpart.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send Kavanaugh’s nomination to the full Senate minutes earlier, but Flake negotiated with Democrats to ask that the floor vote be delayed a week to allow the FBI to investigate the allegations.

Trump would have to order the FBI to do any investigation.

Watch: Judiciary Holds Quick Kavanaugh Vote and Comes to ‘Gentlemen and Women’s Agreement’ for FBI Probe

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Asked if he would give the FBI that order, Trump did not appear to realize it was his decision to make. He said he would leave that decision to Senate GOP and Judiciary Committee leaders.

Trump called Thursday’s testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, “very compelling.”

“She looks like a very fine woman to me. Very fine,” Trump said. “And I thought Brett’s testimony, likewise, was really something I hadn’t seen before.”

“It was incredible. It was an incredible moment in the history of our country,” he said. “I don’t know if this is going to continue onward or we’re going to get a vote.”

Trump said he wanted the situation “to work out really well for the country.” Asked if he has thought about a replacement nominee, Trump said, “Not even a little bit.” And he declined to send a message to senators: “They have to do what they think is right.”

Watch: Graham on Flake Maneuver: Jeff’s Trying His Best to Bring the Country Together

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