The issue focused on legislative procedural procedures used by lawmakers and aides during hearings for nominees to cabinet posts and judgeships. Democrats objected to senators withholding paperwork related to rulings made by appellate courts or attorneys general that liberals viewed as undermining judicial independence. Republicans countered that Democrats did not adequately notify Congress before invoking cloture on judicial nominees.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFBI reaches out to second Kavanaugh accuser Deborah Ramirez How the Trump tax law passed: The lobbying frenzy McConnell says Kavanaugh nomination moving