Republicans say they're going ahead with a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Brett Kavanaugh on Friday—but the American Bar Association thinks they should wait. In a letter released late Thursday, the ABA, which previously declared the nominee "well-qualified" for the court, said the process should be halted until the FBI investigates Christine Blasey Ford's allegations of sexual assault, CNN reports. "Deciding to proceed without conducting additional investigation would not only have a lasting impact on the Senate's reputation, but it will also negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court," organization president Robert Carlson wrote. In other coverage:
- Thursday's emotional hearing appears to have only deepened the partisan divide over Kavanaugh, the AP reports. Sen. Jeff Flake is the only GOP vote in doubt on the Judiciary Committee, which is split 11-10 between Republicans and Democrats, but Republicans could still bring the nomination to a full Senate vote by Tuesday if the panel deadlocks.