LISA DESJARDINS:

Just when you thought there couldn't be more surprises, we had another one today.

The plan right now is for the FBI to begin this background investigation, largely in questioning witnesses. We don't know who they're going to question. And the deal that has been struck here is that they can do no more than a week's worth of work before Republicans will move toward a final vote on this nominee.

Process matters here. We're going to talk a little bit about that. But, first, I want to mention the key witness that Democrats want to be interviewed, of course, is Mark Judge. He has put out a statement saying he is willing to cooperate. But he said he wants it to be a matter of confidentiality.

We're not sure what that means. We have to find out. So he's — still a lot of questions about that.

Let's talk about what happens now. The FBI begins investigating tomorrow. The Senate is expected to take a vote to begin the debate on Judge Kavanaugh. This is procedural. It is just one of a series of votes that need to happen. Now, the next major vote would be to end that debate. That's called closure.

But that won't happen until the FBI finishes. Sometime next week is the expectation. And then late next week, conceivably, there would be a final vote. That's Republicans' hope.