News
Senate advances Kavanaugh nomination — but there’s a floor vote deal
Trump nominee accused of assaulting woman as a teenager
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the Senate floor. (Blade file photo by Micheal Key)
The Senate panel approved the nomination on 11-10 party lines. Republican members insisted on moving forward with the nomination despite objections from Democratic members, many of whom called for delay until the FBI could conduct an additional investigation.
The lynchpin that allowed the nomination to move forward was Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz) — but there was a condition for his support. Although Flake signaled earlier in the day he’d vote to confirm Kavanaugh, he said he agrees with Democrats an FBI investigation is warranted and would only vote on the floor for the nominee if at least one week is given for its completed.
“I’ll move it out of committee, but I will only be comfortable moving forward on the floor until the FBI has done more investigation than it has done already,” Flake said.
Flake acknowledged he has no power to block floor proceedings on the Kavanaugh nomination, which is the jurisdiction of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). But without Flake’s vote on the floor, the Kavanaugh nomination would almost certainly be in jeopardy.
Other moderates in the Senate on both sides of the aisle — Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) — may also take the opportunity to withhold support for Kavanaugh on the floor without the completion of an investigation. A “no” vote from these senators would doom Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
In a statement from the White House, President Trump said he had directed the FBI to pursue the investigation, although it will be limited in time and scope.
“I’ve ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh’s file,” Trump said. “As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.”
Kavanaugh said he’d cooperate with the FBI investigation just as he had with previous inquiries in a separate White House statement.
“Throughout this process, I’ve been interviewed by the FBI, I’ve done a number of ‘background’ calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me,” Kavanaugh said. I’ve done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate.”
Faiz Shakir, political director for the American Civil Liberties Union, commended Flake in a statement for agreeing to the FBI investigation.
“Flake’s actions today were the direct result of so many courageous Americans who have been willing to raise their voices and demand justice,” Shakir said. “It is fitting and proper that credible allegations be investigated before confirming anyone to a lifetime seat on the highest court in the land. We urge all senators from both sides of the aisle to support the investigation and we urge President Trump to direct the FBI to launch one immediately.”
Sharon McGowan, legal director for the LGBT legal group Lambda Legal, said in a statement the vote advance the Kavanaugh nomination was “highly disturbing and extremely dangerous.”
“Every member of the Senate now needs to decide whether it is worth compromising their own integrity to push forward with this toxic nominee,” McGowan said. “Or they can choose to take a stand with the millions of Americans who know that confirming Brett Kavanaugh will send a devastating message to those who have survived sexual violence and embolden the powerful forces that seek to silence them.”
North Carolina
Authorities investigate officer-involved shooting outside Asheville gay bar
Incident took place near Shakey’s on Wednesday
An officer-involved shooting outside of a gay dive bar, Shakey’s, in downtown Asheville, N.C., left one man dead Wednesday.
The bar released a statement the following morning regarding the incident, stating that bar staff had asked a patron to leave earlier in the night citing concerning behavior. The bar said that later the man was spotted with a gun in the parking lot.
The bar proceeded to call 911, locked the doors to the establishment, and followed dispatcher instructions on how to keep patrons of the bar safe while officers arrived. These protocols included getting patrons away from the windows and staying low to the ground.
According to Shakey’s, shots were fired outside of the business. When the Asheville Police Department officers arrived, they fired back. The individual died from their injuries, according to the police.
“Because of everyone’s quick actions, cooperation, and concern for one another, every customer and every employee inside Shakey’s made it home safely. We are incredibly thankful,” Shakey’s said on their Instagram page. They thanked Asheville police, emergency dispatchers, EMS, and all first responders who were on scene.
On Thursday, a spokesperson for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Chad Flowers, stated that the suspect involved in the shooting was Arturo Castillo Palomar.
The Washington Blade reached out to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for a comment regarding the possibility of the event being considered a hate crime. They said the issue is currently under investigation and that the findings would be turned over to the district attorney for review.
Baltimore
Popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s to temporarily close after owner’s death
Ron Singer passed away on July 7
By WESLEY CASE | Leon’s Backroom, Baltimore’s oldest gay bar, temporarily shut down after service on Wednesday night, according to a post on the business’s Instagram page.
The announcement comes a little more than a week after the death of the Mount Vernon bar’s owner, Ron Singer, who died at 66 on July 7.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].
Congratulations to Stuart Ortel and Scott Marker, and Dave Lyons and Rick Hardy, on the recent opening of their garden center on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach, in the former Farmer Girl site. It is called Bay Laurel Home and Garden and debuted earlier this year. The four owners are all well known to the denizens of Rehoboth Beach.
Stuart and Scott have been active members of the Rehoboth Beach community since 1999. Stuart is a landscape architect, and has established relationships with many local folks in the building and landscape industry. When this opportunity for Bay Laurel Home & Garden presented itself, and they had the perfect team of people in place, he and Scott were committed to making it a reality. So, when Scott and Stuart introduced this opportunity to create a new garden center to Dave and Rick, they embraced the chance to cultivate a business where beautiful plants, inspiring home and garden products, and outstanding customer service come together. Dave and Rick knew about owning a business in Rehoboth as they previously owned Coho’s Market, where they discovered firsthand the value of serving their community, and the rewards of running a locally owned business.
The garden center launched with a refreshed brand identity, updated merchandising, and expanded product lines, all designed to create an inspiring and welcoming environment for your home. Bay Laurel Home & Garden offers a beautifully appointed garden center and curated home and gift shop.
The new center features a full nursery with annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal selections; a garden center offering pottery, fountains, and garden ornamentation, and essential tools and garden supplies. It has a garden shop featuring unique indoor/outdoor furnishings and accessories, and a gift shop featuring botanical and coastal style items for home and entertaining.
Authorities investigate officer-involved shooting outside Asheville gay bar
Popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s to temporarily close after owner’s death
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