Locked and Loaded

Q-1607

Sep 28, 2018 at 4:21 pm ET

HIGHLIGHTS

White House 'Shellshocked' by Developments; 'There's No Plan B'

A person close to the White House described those working on the confirmation process as "shellshocked" by Friday's events.

"As of last night, everyone was in a good mood," the person said, saying the view was that Dr. Ford's testimony was "good" but Judge Kavanaugh's was "great." As of 10 p.m. Thursday, the person said, "everything was locked and loaded."

Then, shortly before midnight on Thursday, the American Bar Association issued a letter urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote on Judge Kavanaugh's nomination only after a "thorough" FBI investigation. After that, the person said, "It kind of fell apart."

The person said there was "enormous anger" at the ABA from the White House counsel's office and other lawyers working on the confirmation process, describing the letter as a pivotal development that prompted strong discomfort in particular from Ms. Murkowski.

Ms. Murkowski said Friday morning before the Senate committee vote that she remained undecided on the nomination.

The White House isn't expected to talk to any other candidates for the Supreme Court nomination next week while the FBI investigation is under way, the person said.

"There's no Plan B here," the person said. Any backup plan, the person said, would not be "viable" given the timing of the midterm elections in early November.

-Rebecca Ballhaus