The Morning Briefing: Cloture Has Been Filed and Much, Much More

Good Thursday morning.

Here is what’s on the president’s agenda today:

The president participates in a roundtable with supporters in Minneapolis, Minn.
President Trump delivers remarks at a joint fundraising committee reception Minneapolis, Minn.
The president hosts a Make America Great Again rally in Rochester, Minn.

Kavanope update

So two developments: the FBI has sent their report on Kavanaugh to the White House and Mitch McConnell has filed for cloture on Kavanaugh’s nomination. Cloture is a vote to end procedural debate and move to take a vote on the actual Kavanaugh nomination. Say what you will about Mitch McConnell, I know I sure have, this man DOES NOT mess around on judicial nominations. He doesn’t.

“Now Senators will have the evidence collected by this additional background investigation for their consideration as well. Members will have the opportunity to review investigators’ records, and as is the standard procedure designated, judiciary staff members with the required clearances will be authorized to brief members,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the WH reviewed the new FBI report and did not find that any of Ford’s allegations were confirmed.

The White House has found no corroboration of the allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after examining interview reports from the FBI’s latest probe into the judge’s background, according to people familiar with the matter.

The report should be released to the public. After the circus the confirmation process has become, the American people should see the report for themselves. If not, the conspiracy theories, speculation, and leaks are going to be off the charts. As it is, we are all going to hear how the investigation is incomplete and was cut short by the White House. The Democrats want an investigation to last forever and ever. Just release the report and let everyone decide without the media “helpers.”

Senators were expected to study the report at a secure location on Thursday. Three uncommitted Republicans—Jeff Flake of Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska—have said the FBI report would factor significantly into their decision.

Also important on this front is that an arrest has been made regarding the doxxing targeting Senators Mike Lee, Orrin Hatch and Lindsey Graham. Getting “doxxed” means that one’s private, personal information is made public and in this case, the senators’ home addresses were posted on Wikipedia. Rand Paul was also being targeted and Paul’s wife wrote an open letter detailing how Cory Booker had urged people to accost Rand.

Kelley Paul wrote in an op-ed published on CNN that her husband was “besieged at the airport by activists.” She indicated that they shouted at the senator, stuck their middle fingers in his face and prevented him from moving to his destination.

She wrote that the protesters had heeded Booker’s advice from July in which he urged a nonprofit group in Washington, D.C., to “get up in the face of some congresspeople” rather than being passive about issues they care about.

“I would call on you to retract your statement,” Kelley Paul wrote Wednesday. “I would call on you to condemn violence, the leaking of elected officials’ personal addresses (our address was leaked from a Senate directory given only to senators), and the intimidation and threats that are being hurled at them and their families.”

So how about that arrest, eh?

U.S. Capitol Police said 27-year-old Jackson Cosko was charged with making public restricted personal information, witness tampering, threats in interstate communication, unauthorized access of a government computer, identity theft, second-degree burglary and unlawful entry. Police added that the investigation was continuing and more charges could be filed.

Senior congressional sources tell Fox News that Cosko most recently worked as an unpaid intern for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas. He previously worked with Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and former Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California. He also worked or interned with the office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as with at least one other unnamed lawmaker. A LinkedIn page with Cosko’s name on it describes him as a “Democratic Political Professional & Cybersecurity Graduate Student.”

Well slap my face and call me Sally.

Georgetown University Responds to Professor Who Tweeted About ‘Castrating’ Kavanaugh Supporters

Alum, faculty and students at Ford’s alma mater take out full-page ad supporting her

Dangerous thinking. Alyssa Milano Says If ‘Men Have A Hard Time Right Now’ That’s The Way It Has To Be For ‘Equality’

What Happens if a Democratic House Votes to Impeach Kavanaugh?

More than 650 law professors urge senators to reject Kavanaugh

THIS GUY, he’s a Flake-in-training. Ben Sasse Chokes Up While Discussing Sexual Assault

Yale roommate says Kavanaugh lied under oath about drinking and yearbook

Don’t forget about the RUSSIA investigation!

Catherine Herridge at Fox News is reporting that James Baker, a former top FBI lawyer, gave some explosive testimony to congressional investigators.

“Some of the things that were shared were explosive in nature,” Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), told Fox News. “This witness confirmed that things were done in an abnormal fashion. That’s extremely troubling.”

“During the time that the FBI was putting — that DOJ and FBI were putting together the FISA (surveillance warrant) during the time prior to the election — there was another source giving information directly to the FBI, which we found the source to be pretty explosive,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

Next up, Rosenstein will appear on October 11 for a closed-door interview with congressional investigators. We don’t know if Rosenstein’s meeting with Trump was ever rescheduled. That meeting was put off in favor of the Kavanaugh circus. “If there’s a meeting, we’ll let you know,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. “But at this point, they continue to work together and both show up every day and do their jobs.”

Historical picture of the day:

Cast members of “High Noon” watch the World Series opener between the New York Yankees and the New York Giants on television on a Hollywood movie set in Oct. 4, 1951. The cast and crew from left are, Otto Kruger, Thomas Mitchell, Gary Cooper, foot on barrel, an unidentified studio staffer, Grace Kelly and Lon Chaney Jr. (AP Photo/Charles Handel)

Other morsels:

Ellison: I’m Considering Resigning From the DNC

Ahead of holidays, FedEx leans on special bonuses to keep pilots from retiring

Top Finance Dem urges IRS to investigate Trump tax allegations

‘Selficides’ on the rise as social-media-obsessed daredevils seek the perfect picture

Judge blocks Trump from ending protections for 300,000 immigrants

4 US sailors accused of sex with underage girl, capturing child porn

Suspect arrested for allegedly sending suspicious envelopes to Trump, Pentagon

Harvard diving coach accused of texting penis pics to female athletes

South Carolina shooting leaves 1 officer dead, 6 others wounded: police

ICE union wants Portland mayor to face criminal probe over actions during Occupy ICE protests

US Navy proposing major show of force to warn China