KAVANAUGH | McConnell sets Friday vote on limiting debate on Kavanaugh nomination

WASHINGTON (AP)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has taken a key procedural step to begin voting on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

The Republican leader filed a motion setting up a Friday vote on whether to limit debate on Kavanaugh and move forward.

A simple majority of 51 votes will be needed for Kavanaugh’s nomination to advance. A final vote could come Saturday.

Senators delayed a vote on Kavanaugh so the FBI could conduct a background investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Kavanaugh denies the allegations.

The Senate Judiciary Committee expected to receive the report from the FBI this evening.

A handful of Republicans and Democrats have not decided whether to support Kavanaugh. Their votes will likely decide whether he is confirmed.

All 100 senators, and a handful of Senate staff, will be able to read the FBI’s report once it’s sent to Congress. But it’s unclear if the public will see it.

Background checks are routine in a nominee’s vetting process and are generally delivered to the Senate without much fanfare. This background check is different, requested by a trio of the senators undecided on Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

To guard the sensitive information, the FBI’s report is expected to be held in a secure room normally reserved only for classified matters.