Kavanaugh Confirmation Trump calls Kavanaugh accuser 'credible,' says he'll rely on Senate Republicans for path forward

President Donald Trump on Friday said he found the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford a day earlier "very credible," and he said he would rely on the advice of the Senate Judiciary Committee on whether to reopen an FBI background investigation into sexual assault claims against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

"I'm going to rely on all of the people, including Sen. Grassley who is doing a very good job," Trump said less than an hour after the committee advanced Kavanaugh's nomination to the Senate floor.


The committee was only able to advance the nomination after Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said he would support such a move if the FBI conducts a one-week investigation into Kavanaugh before the full floor vote.

Kavanaugh and Ford testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, delivering emotional accounts about Ford's allegation that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when they were high school students.

Trump and the White House have been steadfast in their support of Kavanaugh, who has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump said he has not thought of a replacement for Kavanaugh "even a little bit."

But he also said Ford "looked like a very fine woman" during her testimony.

"It was an incredible moment, I think, in the history of our country," He said. "But certainly she was a very credible witness. She was very good in many respects."

Trump, speaking as he welcomed Chilean President Sebastian Pinera to the White House, said he was not up-to-date on what the committee had decided regarding an FBI investigation.

"That will be a decision that they are going to make," Trump said about the path forward on Kavanaugh. "I will be totally reliant on what Sen. Grassley and the group decides to do."

It is unclear whether Kavanaugh has enough votes to be confirmed by the full Senate. GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have yet to announce whether they will vote for him.

The president said he has "no message" for them and said "they have to do what they think it is right."

"They have to be comfortable with themselves, and I'm sure that's what they are," Trump said.

"I think it will work out very well for the country," he added. "I just want it to work out well for the country. If that happens, I'm happy."

