Over Democratic objections, Senate panel sets vote on Trump's court pick Kavanaugh

Angry Democrats objected as the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee set a vote for later on Friday on the nomination of President Trump's US Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh after a key senator, Jeff Flake, threw his support behind the judge.

Republicans appeared to have the votes to approve Kavanaugh in the panel after Flake's announcement.

The committee's meeting came the morning after a jarring and emotional hearing into sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh that gripped the country and reflected the larger US political divide, with a university professor accusing the judge of sexual misconduct and the nominee angrily denying it.

The committee, with 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats, set the vote for 1:30 pm (1730 GMT) over strenuous objections from Democrats, some of whom left the room in protest. "What a railroad job," Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono said.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the committee, praised Kavanaugh as he pressed forward with the vote.

A committee vote to approve Kavanaugh which pave the way for a final debate and vote on the Senate floor in the coming days.

Democrats have urged a delay to allow for an FBI investigation, a move backed late Thursday by the American Bar Association, which had earlier endorsed his nomination.

"Why are they shutting it down? I believe it's because they are trying to hide something," Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat on the committee, told NBC's "Today" program on Friday.

Kavanaugh could be the deciding vote on several contentious cases if he is confirmed, with disputes involving abortion, immigration, gay rights, voting rights and transgender troops possibly heading to the court soon.

Confirmation of Kavanaugh, a federal appeals court judge, would cement conservative control of the nation's highest court.

After a procedural vote that could come over the weekend, the full 100-member Senate could take action next week.