Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, Kamala Harris, D-California, Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, walked out of the room after two motions were offered and quickly voted on without discussion.
>>Related: Livestream: Senate to vote on Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination
The first, was a motion to subpoena Mark Judge, a high school friend of Kavanaugh’s who Christine Ford testified on Thursday was at a party in which she claimed Kavanaugh assaulted her.
Senate Judiciary Committee votes 11-10 against the Mark Judge motion; Grassley moves for a 1:30 pm vote
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) September 28, 2018
The second, was to set a “time certain” vote, meaning discussion will be cut off at a certain time and a vote will be taken.
Grassley has set the time for the vote at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
“I strongly object. This is just totally ridiculous. What a railroad job. My answer is no, no, no!” Hirono said as she was asked to vote on the motion.
Sen. Corey Booker, D-New Jersey, and Harris sat silent, refusing to cast a vote.
The four senators let the room and went into the hall where they complained to reporters that Kavanaugh’s nomination was being “railroaded.”
WATCH: Democratic Senators @KamalaHarris, @SenBlumenthal and @maziehirono hold news conference after walking out of #BrettKavanaugh vote. https://t.co/iCybUdm8yl
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) September 28, 2018
After the four left the hearing room, several women began standing silently in the back of the room as Grassley on several occasions tried to regain order in the room.
Women are standing in silent protest at the back of the Judiciary Committee room. They're now being led out by security. pic.twitter.com/TSC8S8VOLW
— Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) September 28, 2018
Credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais
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