*By Carlo Versano*
The FBI will likely conclude its investigation into sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday night and issue a report to Senators on Thursday, sources told Cheddar's J.D. Durkin.
Investigators are under extreme pressure from Republicans to deliver a report in time for a Friday vote, a deadline Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has demanded.
CNN reported late Tuesday that the FBI has actually widened the scope of its investigation, adding a specific party from Kavanaugh's calendar to its inquiry.
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) told Cheddar Wednesday that, even if Kavanuagh is confirmed to the high court, the nominee has revealed himself to be so partisan that it will be difficult for the judge to impartially decide certain cases. King alluded to a portion of Kavanaugh's testimony in which he blamed the allegations against him on a Democratic witch hunt. The Senator called that moment "very disturbing."
"I don't see how he can sit on a case involving partisan gerrymandering, for example," King said.
Meanwhile, President Trump shed all his prior restraint on the topic of Kavanaugh's first accuser, Prof. Christine Blasey Ford. Days after saying he found her to be a "credible witness" and a "very fine woman, he mocked and questioned Ford's testimony at a rally in Mississippi on Tuesday night to roaring applause from the audience. Earlier in the day, Trump also expressed concern that the #MeToo movement had made it "a very scary time for young men in America."
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), a key swing vote in the Kavanaugh confirmation process, told NBC's "Today" show he found Trump's comments "kind of appalling."
There are 38 openly gay mayors across the country, according to the Victory Fund, an advocacy group working to elect LGBTQ politicians. Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa, was elected in April with an overwhelming 72 percent of votes, becoming the city's first openly gay mayor.
Illinois is now the 11th state in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana. Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the legalization bill into law on Tuesday, just a few weeks after the proposal was passed by the state legislature.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Tuesday, June 25, 2019.
Green Growth Brands has added another retail veteran to its team. A former executive at Victoria’s Secret, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein, Jann Parish joins the CBD-infused beauty and skincare company as chief marketing officer, as it seeks to tap into the cultural movement surrounding cannabis and hemp.
Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) is hoping to break through on the Democratic Primary debate stage Wednesday night by emphasizing his Ohio working class bona fides.
Companies from every sector of the economy are celebrating Pride this month with rainbow logos, LGBTQ-themed marketing campaigns, and new product launches. Yet branding experts note that simply acknowledging Pride in June can undermine a corporate brand as well as undercut the fundamental message of Pride, which is rooted in human rights and celebrating a community that has long been discriminated against.
June is the first Pride month for the 116th Congress, which includes 10 openly gay politicians — the most in the nation’s history. From hometown parades to policy speeches, members of Congress are marking the celebratory month and using the occasion to push for equality legislation.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is polling somewhere in the neighborhood of zero to one percent in most national polls, but she doesn't believe she can be counted out of the race with the first Democratic primary debates still looming.
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: Democratic presidential hopefuls descended on South Carolina Friday to meet voters and chow down at House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn's "World Famous Fish Fry."
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Monday, June 24, 2019.
