UPDATED: Flake to vote 'yes' — Judiciary committee set to approve Kavanaugh

UPDATE: Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) revealed Friday morning that he would be voting in support of Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination in today's Judiciary Committee vote, CNN reported.

Original report below.

Eyes will be on Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) as the Senate Judiciary Committee votes Friday on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

On Thursday, Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, testified before the committee for hours over Ford's sexual misconduct allegations against the nominee. Ford testified that the nominee had sexually assaulted her more than 36 years ago.

Kavanaugh gave a passionate opening statement and adamantly denied any wrongdoing during the lengthy hearing.

The committee is set to vote at 9:30 a.m. ET Friday.

What about Flake?

Republican Sens. Flake, Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) reportedly met behind closed doors, along with moderate Democrat Joe Manchin (W. Va.) following Thursday's hearings.

After Kavanaugh testified, Flake, the only fence-sitting senator who serves on the Judiciary Committee, made a brief statement before huddling with the other senators, NPR reported.

"I would just urge my colleagues to recognize that, in the end, we are 21 very imperfect senators trying to do our best to provide advice and consent," Flake said. "And in the end, there is likely going to be as much doubt as certainty going out of this room today."

Republicans hold a slim majority, 51-49, which means Kavanaugh faces a tough vote when the nomination goes to the full Senate.

What about Manchin?

Manchin, who is running for re-election in a state with strong Trump support, gave no definitive answers as to how he would vote, The Hill reported.

“Everyone’s trying to get some answers to a few things and we’ll go from there,” Manchin told reporters after his meeting with his Republican colleagues. “We’ve talked and we’re still talking. There’s no decisions made on anything, I can assure you of that."

“There are some concerns that people have and they’re going to try to close the loop,” he continued. “We’re friends. We talk. There’s no decisions on anything. No one told me they made a decision and we’re all still looking and talking and comparing."

However, The Atlantic's Elaina Plott reported that a source close to Manchin said that the senator "will side with the overwhelming number of people in WV who want Kavanaugh confirmed."

According to the source, "Manchin likes Kavanaugh and has always wanted to find a way to support him," Plott reported.

Interesting: A source close to Senator Manchin tells me now, "Short of claims that definitively prove Dr. Ford's allegations or a realization that Kavanaugh will gut the healthcare law, Manchin will side with the overwhelming number of people in WV who want Kavanaugh confirmed."

— Elaina Plott (@elainaplott) September 28, 2018

"Manchin likes Kavanaugh and has always wanted to find a way to support him."

— Elaina Plott (@elainaplott) September 28, 2018

What else?

Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.) was among a few key GOP senators who were undecided before Thursday's hearings. After the hearing testimony from both parties, Corker issued a statement that he would vote to confirm Kavanaugh.

"While both individuals provided compelling testimony, nothing that has been presented corroborates the allegation," Corker's statement said, according to The Hill. "There is no question that Judge Kavanaugh is qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, and in a different political environment, he would be confirmed overwhelmingly."