Will Sherpa Kyl be forced to recuse himself on the Kavanaugh vote?

[OilemFirchen]

Tomorrow's debate will, no doubt, be interesting. I think it's a guarantee that the Democrats will provide sworn statements from some of the witnesses whose attempts to reach out to the FBI were thwarted, and who, remarkably, have gone unnoticed by at least one of the "swing" Republicans.

But what of Jon Kyl, the interim replacement for John McCain and sherpa for Brett Kavanaugh? It's unlikely that his guidance to Kavanaugh will disqualify him from a vote, but what about his paid work for the Judicial Crisis Network?

Arizona's Politics reported in July on Kyl being named the "sherpa" (or, guide) for Kavanaugh through the confirmation process. Kyl's role in that trek was interrupted earlier this month when Arizona Governor Doug Ducey tapped Kyl to return to the Senate - this time, to serve out the remainder of Sen. John McCain's term.

At that time, Arizona's Politics asked if he was supporting the Kavanaugh nomination on behalf of the Trump Administration, JCN, or both; Kyl answered that he was "working gratis for the White House in my personal (not law firm) capacity."

However, in his lobbying disclosure to the Senate last year, Kyl and his lobbying partner Bill Wichterman at the law firm of Covington & Burling indicated that not only did they help JCN with the Gorsuch nomination, but they worked to "prepare for possible additional Supreme Court vacancy." That 2nd disclosure report indicated that JCN paid $115,000 for the work between April 1 and June 30. Gorsuch was confirmed on April 7, so it would appear that a sizable chunk of work was done for replacing the next Justice to leave the bench.

#50ShadesOfDarkMoney: Arizona's Politics has written about the dark money nature of the JCN in the past, and more recent reporting shows that it has been largely funded by one anonymous donor. In the current Kavanaugh battle, JCN has spent more than $4M to bolster Kavanaugh, and says the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct are "unsubstantiated."

Will there be an attempt to force Kyl to recuse himself? If so, what would be your guess as to the outcome?

[LandOfHopeAndDreams]

1. No Attempt nt

[SCantiGOP]

2. McConnell will ignore anyone who brings it up

And Kyl will vote for him.

[lark]

3. Russian repug rapists won't have it.

I don't know how Dems can force someone with no ethics to act ethical and none of these repugs appear to have any shred whatsoever of caring about morals or ethics. Kyl will vote to confirm. So proud of Heitkamps statement about her no vote - very courageous and right on.

[Ccarmona]

4. Of Course Not

This is the biggest sham in the history of the Senate. The FBI were purposely, severely constrained by the WH because they know Kavs isn’t qualified. But, DT knows that Kavs is his get-out-of-jail free card and is using blackmail and Kompromat to get his way on this. The Senate GOP are the ones being blackmailed.

[dhol82]

5. He's a republican. I'm guessing.........no.

[Shanti Mama]

6. Please don't use the word "Sherpa" this way

I lived in Nepal for many, many years. They don't like it.
And please don't buy Himalayan salt. It's not renewable and high altitude people in the mountains and Tibet need it.

[OilemFirchen]

7. That's the term the Senate uses for judicial nomination guides.

Thanks for the tip on the salt. I see those lamps advertised and simply don't get it.

[OilemFirchen]

8. I disagree with the responders thus far.

I do think that one of the Democratic Senators will move that Kyl recuse himself and it will be put to a vote. Based on how much the news is pinballing today, I'm not sure what the outcome would be.

We'll see.