If an FBI investigation fails to corroborate Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, a majority of Americans believe he should be confirmed immediately.
A Harvard/Harris poll released Tuesday shows that while many Americans believe Kavanaugh shouldn’t be confirmed before the FBI concludes its seventh background check on the embattled judge, if the FBI probe comes up empty, most Americans would like to see the Kavanaugh affair over and over quickly.
The poll has less rosy news for Republicans as a Quinnipiac poll released at the same time: voters still believe they’ll turn out for Democrats in November, even though Democrats have treated the Supreme Court nomination process like a kangaroo court. But voters do recognize that Democrats have completely undermined the nomination and confirmation process: 69% of respondents to the poll call the hearings a “national disgrace,” and 55% blame Democrats for being too partisan throughout.
Likely voters have tasked the FBI with finding out the truth about Brett Kavanaugh, which means Sen. Jeff Flake’s (R-AZ) gamble may just pay off for Kavanaugh in the long run if the week-long investigation into Kavanaugh’s past turns up little to corroborate Dr. Ford’s sexual assault story.
If Kavanaugh’s accusers fail to provide “any evidence to corroborate the [sexual assault] claims and Kavanaugh says these incidents did not happen,” Americans believe Kavanaugh should sit on the Supreme Court by a margin of 57% to 43%.
If the FBI probe doesn’t find anything of note, essentially clearing Kavanaugh of suspicion, 60% of Americans say he should be confirmed.