Flake, Collins And Murkowski Avoiding Spotlight As Confirmation Vote Looms

The three Republicans whose votes on Brett Kavanaugh will likely determine whether he’s awarded a spot on the Supreme Court have become increasingly difficult to pinpoint by media and protesters in the past 24 hours as their colleagues read the FBI report and the confirmation vote inches closer.

According to Politico, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) has been using underground passages and tunnels to exit the Capitol on the House side in order to avoid the media. Both Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have spending more time in their Capitol offices rather than in the Senate building, which is open to the public and protesters.

Mums the word on how the three will eventually vote, but both Collins and Flake on Thursday expressed optimism over the thoroughness of the FBI probe into allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh. According to Politico, during a briefing on the FBI report with fellow Republicans, Flake didn’t veer far off from his colleagues, asking questions that fell in line with what others raised. One Republican senator who spoke to Politico said Flake “will be OK” with Kavanaugh when it comes down to the vote.

Murkowski has been more tight-lipped, refusing to comment to the media until she’s read through the FBI report.

The three, along with Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), may wait until Friday morning to announce their decision, senators and aides told Politico.