On Thursday, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) was confronted by a female protester who demanded to know if he planned on voting for SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
“As a survivor, I don’t understand how you can’t look me in the eye,” the woman said as Manchin looked directly at her. She continued: “Why are you gonna vote yes on this?”
Manchin replied: “How do you know [how] I’m gonna vote?”
The following exchange then took place:
PROTESTER: Can you tell me how you’re gonna vote?
MANCHIN: No, I’m not gonna tell you. Not until I finish [my report] tomorrow morning.
PROTESTER: Well how – how are you not listening to us as survivors?
MANCHIN: I am listening to you.
PROTESTER: Are you? You’re gonna get in this elevator? How are you gonna vote. Tell me.
After being rebuffed by a security guard, the protester said: “How long is it gonna take you to listen to us?” By that point, the elevator door had closed.
Senator Manchin is considered one of the only possible Democratic swing votes on SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), once considered another possible swing vote, announced on Thursday that she will be voting against confirming Kavanaugh.