Mike Pence expected to be on standby in case tie-breaker …
More than three months of drama and controversy over the future of the Supreme Court is set to end in the next 36 hours. The Senate will decide Friday morning whether to send the president's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to a final vote, expected early Saturday evening. Republicans control the Senate 51 to 49, so the GOP can only afford to have one of its senators vote "no."
Three Republican senators are considered undecided: Senators Susan Collins, Jeff Flake, and Lisa Murkowski. Sources tell CBS News Vice President Mike Pence will be in Washington this weekend, in case his vote is needed to break a tie.
On Friday, we should know once and for all whether Kavanaugh has the support he needs to get confirmed because the way those few remaining undecided senators vote to end debate today could signal how they plan to vote Saturday on final confirmation. Forces on both sides have been piling on the pressure all the way to the end.
In a final bid before the vote, anti-Kavanaugh protesters spent the night on Capitol grounds, egged on by Democrats. His confirmation now hinges on one Democrat and three Republicans.
According to a summary released overnight by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the FBI interviewed 10 people who might have had firsthand knowledge of the sexual assault allegations by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez.
For Ford, the FBI spoke with three people she claimed were at the party in question: Mark Judge, P.J. Smyth, and Leyland Keyser. They also spoke with Timothy Gaudette and Christopher Garrett, Kavanaugh's classmates who were referenced on his calendars.
The FBI also interviewed Ramirez, along with two eyewitnesses named by Ramirez, as well as her close friend from college. According to the Republican summary, the FBI found no corroboration of the allegations made by Ford or Ramirez.
Still, North Dakota Democrat Heidi Heitkamp announced she was a "no."
"I can't get up in the morning and look at the life experience that I have had and say yes to Judge Kavanaugh," Heitkamp said.
Kavanaugh, who's denied the allegations, wrote an op-ed Thursday night admitting he "might have been too emotional at times, I know that my tone was sharp, and I said a few things I should not have said." He wrote it "reflected my overwhelming frustration at being wrongly accused."
Ford's lawyers called the investigation a "stain on the process" because the FBI "declined to interview" friends and others who could have backed her up.
"The report ignores some of the absolutely crucial witnesses," said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
CBS News has confirmed that the FBI limited its scope at the direction of Republicans and the White House.
When asked why the FBI did not interview people Ford had confided in, Republican Sen. Mike Lee replied, "Our request was to the White House, the White House then made the request of the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation into current, credible accusations of sexual misconduct. They did that."
Lee's comments are a reflection of just how vague Republicans and the White House have been about the marching orders they gave the FBI. To give you a sense of how intense the last minute lobbying is, the White House, former President George W. Bush, and other heavy hitters have all been working the phones trying to ensure that Kavanaugh gets confirmed.
2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Original post:
Mike Pence expected to be on standby in case tie-breaker ...
- Enter To Win Tickets To See Mike Pence On January 28 At The Sacramento Speaker Series! - Talk 650 KSTE - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Scenes from former Vice President Dick Cheneys funeral at Washington National Cathedral today. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Joe Biden were in... - November 20th, 2025 [November 20th, 2025]
- Mike Pence says America must continue to stand with Israel amid Union protest - varsity.co.uk - November 20th, 2025 [November 20th, 2025]
- Mike Pence, 48th Vice President of the United States, speaks at Chatham House - Chatham House - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Mike Pence's Handwritten Notes Reveal the Insult Donald Trump Used in Final Conversation Before Jan. 6 Riots - People.com - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Mike Pence's Handwritten Notes Reveal the Insult Donald Trump Used in Final Conversation Before Jan. 6 Riots - Yahoo - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Mike Pence's Handwritten Notes Reveal the Insult Donald Trump Used in Final Conversation Before Jan. 6 Riots - Yahoo News Canada - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Excerpts from Mike Pence notes on Jan. 6 conversations with Trump come out: Youll go down as a wimp - Diario AS - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Trump Slammed Mike Pence As A Wimp In Final Call Before Jan. 6 Insurrection - HuffPost - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's Insult For Mike Pence On Jan 6 Should Have JD Vance Watching His Back - thelist.com - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Trumps final words on Jan 6 to Mike Pence revealed - The Independent - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Trumps final words on Jan 6 to Mike Pence revealed - Yahoo News Canada - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Exclusive: Mike Pence, Conan OBrien, Helena Bonham Carter, George R. R. Martin to speak at the Union - The Oxford Student - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Mike Pence and John Bolton say Americas future lies with its citizens - Harvard Kennedy School - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Former Vice President Mike Pence voiced support for Harvard researchers caught up in the White Houses antisemitism investigations at a Harvard forum... - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- What Trump's First VP Mike Pence Has Been Up To Since Being Iced Out Of His Inner Circle - thelist.com - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Trump judicial pick who faced conservative backlash gets boost from Mike Pence group - Washington Examiner - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Mike Pence Says Trump Is 'Right' When He Says Ukraine Can Fight And Win Back Territory From Russia - Benzinga - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Former VP Mike Pence Heads To Academia With Faculty Role At George Mason University - Benzinga - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- Former VP Mike Pence to teach politics at George Mason University in the Spring - WJLA - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- Mike Pence Arrives At Capitol Before Trump Inauguration Made A Post (CIs2MbvVKU) - folha do es - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- Today, Vice President Mike Pence surprised guests at the Bush Center and sat down for a special taping of The Strategerist podcast before a live... - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Former VP Mike Pence to become George Mason University professor - WUSA9 - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Former VP Mike Pence: China is the greatest economic and strategic threat facing the U.S. - CNBC - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Mike Pence joins George Mason University faculty - DC News Now - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Former VP Mike Pence to teach politics at George Mason University in the Spring - WSET - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Mike Pence announces he will be teaching at George Mason University in Virginia - weareiowa.com - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Video Mike Pence to teach politics at George Mason University in 2026 - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Mike Pence joins George Mason University faculty - The Business Journals - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Mike Pence: "We gotta be careful about putting America on trial whenever we see evil overtake the heart of any individual. In this case, absent... - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Mike Pence Joins George Mason University as Distinguished Professor - National Review - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: Five years on, the Abraham Accords still point the way to peace - Fox News - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Mike Pence to speak at UNCW this fall - Port City Daily - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Vice President Mike Pence to Keynote UNCWs Dare to Learn Lecture - University of North Carolina Wilmington - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Mike Pence Blames Trump Tariffs As John Deere Cuts 238 Jobs In Iowa: 'Time To Get Back To Free Trade With Free Nations' - Benzinga - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Mike Pence on Trumps handling of Putin, tariffs - NewsNation - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Former VP Mike Pence tells The Hill on NewsNation Putin doesnt want peace - The Hill - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence Calls For 'Free Trade With Free Nations' And Says Tariffs Ultimately Hurt U.S. Businesses And Shoppers - Yahoo Finance - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Mike Pence-Backed Group Calls for End to Gambling Loss Tax Deductions - newsnet5.com - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- US companies and consumers paying the cost of Trumps tariffs - Mike Pence - sentinelassam.com - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Eric Metaxas Guest John Zmirak: Mike Pence, Lindsey Graham, John McCain Were Part of Obama Coup Claimed by Gabbard - People For the American Way - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Mike Pence Says 'Time Has Come' to Share Epstein Files, Adding 'Anyone' Associated with the 'Despicable Man' Deserves Scrutiny - AOL.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence Joins Calls To Release Epstein Files: The Time Has Come - Yahoo Home - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Extended Interview: Mike Pence on Trump tariffs, Jeffrey Epstein and more - CBS News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Mike Pence calls for the release of the Epstein files - AOL.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Mike Pence urges Trump to 'release all the files' on Jeffrey Epstein - USA Today - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence pushes for release of the Epstein files: The time has come - The Independent - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mike Pence calls for the release of the Epstein files: 'I've always believed in transparency' - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence pushes for release of the Epstein files: The time has come - Yahoo - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mike Pence says Trump "starting to realize Putin doesn't want peace" - CBS News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mike Pence has a message for Donald Trump about Jeffrey Epstein: 'Release all the files' - South Bend Tribune - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mike Pence makes stunning demand of Trump admin: The time has come - NJ.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mike Pence has a message for Donald Trump about Jeffrey Epstein: 'Release all the files' - Yahoo - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mike Pence says the time has come for Trump to release the Epstein files - Global News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mike Pence Says It Was Tariffs On Tea That Led To The American Revolution, Reiterates Only Congress Can Impose Such Levies - Benzinga - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trumps former Vice President Mike Pence pushes for release of the Epstein files: The time has come - MSN - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Firing Line with Margaret Hoover kicks off eighth season on PBS with Mike Pence - PR Newswire - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Mike Pence Says Trump's Tariff Escalations With US Allies Are Like 'Dismissing Your Front Line In A Football Game' - Benzinga - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- 'Jeopardizes All Of It': Ex-Mike Pence Aide Knocks Trump Over These 'Confusing' Moves - HuffPost - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- JD Vance Wonders If Other VPs Had This Much Excitement Social Media Says, Ask Mike Pence - Yahoo News Singapore - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- "My Respect For VP Pence Continues To Grow": People Are Applauding Mike Pence For Writing A Letter To A January 6 Rioter Who Refused Trump's... - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- 'Shows your commitment to rule of law': Trump's ex-VP Mike Pence applauds woman who refused pardon for Ja - Times of India - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- People Can't Believe They Actually Agree With Mike Pence After He Wrote A Letter To A Jan 6 Rioter - BuzzFeed - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Mike Pence writes letter to Jan 6 rioter praising her for refusing to take Trumps pardon - MSN - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Mike Pence reveals whether he plans to run in 2028 - Yahoo - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Former Vice President Mike Pence parts ways with Trump on tariff policy - WRAL.com - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence criticizes Trump on tariffs and key foreign policy issues as he watches from afar - NBC News - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence reveals whether he plans to run in 2028 - The Independent - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence warns of risk of Trump accepting a plane from nation linked to Hamas - The Independent - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence ramps up Trump disapproval with 13 words slamming overseas trip - The Mirror US - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Would former VP Mike Pence ever run for office again? Here's what he said - IndyStar - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence Sounds Terror Alert on Trumps Free Plane - The Daily Beast - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- How Mike Pence says he came to the conclusion he should part ways with Trump - MSN - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence criticizes Trump on tariffs and key foreign policy issues as he watches from afar - Straight Arrow News - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Trump's Middle East Trip Draws Rare Praise From Mike Pence As 'Very Successful' For US Economy Amid 'Historic' Boeing Deal: 'That'll Really Support... - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence says Trump tariffs were the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history - MSN - May 22nd, 2025 [May 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Pence Says This Trump Policy Could Kill The American Dream - HuffPost - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Mike Pence receives award for defending democracy from Trump without mentioning his name - MSN - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Former Vice President Mike Pence urges President Trump and congressional Republicans not to raise taxes on wealthy Americans - Fox News - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Mike Pence rebukes Trump over tariffs and wavering support for Ukraine - The Guardian - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]