WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Republican-held Senate Judiciary Committee said Tuesday that it would vote on Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh's nomination Friday, one day after a hearing to determine the credibility of his sexual misconduct allegations.
The result of Friday's vote will decide whether the nominee will receive positive recommendations in the following senate floor vote.
A hearing will be held Thursday in which Kavanaugh will defend accusations from Christine Ford, a university professor, that he had forced himself on her in a party during their high school years in the 1980s.
The 51-year-old Ford made the accusation in a letter to Democratic lawmakers after Kavanaugh was shortlisted for the Supreme Court opening vacated by Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Ford, who originally wished to stay anonymous, came into the spotlight in September after her allegations were leaked to the press. Kavanaugh has denied Ford's accusations, and has expressed wish to defend his "good name" in a hearing.
In addition to Ford, another female has told the press that Kavanaugh revealed his private parts to her while they were both in Yale University.
The accusations have prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to weigh in Tuesday, saying the Democrats were playing "a con game," and that Kavanaugh was "a wonderful human being."
The allegations have generated much uncertainty over Kavanaugh's confirmation, with a handful of Republican Senators expressing their doubts in his character.
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has suggested having the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe the allegations before the Senate proceeds to a vote.
But the Republican leadership is hoping for a swift vote, eyeing a floor vote as early as next week.
Senator John Cornyn, the number two Republican in the chamber, told reporters Tuesday he hope the floor vote can be scheduled for "the first part of next week."
