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U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, center, during a tour of abandoned mines in Clear Creek County in August. The Colorado Republican said Friday he will vote "yes" on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun)

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, will vote “yes” Saturday on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

That’s according to a statement released by his office on Friday afternoon.

“I announced my support for Judge Kavanaugh in July, and I will be voting to approve his nomination to the Supreme Court,”Senator Gardner said in his statement. “During this confirmation process, I have supported every opportunity to ensure we have all available information before us. This included listening to hours of testimony, reading and re-reading transcripts and statements, and studying interviews of over 150 people spanning 25 years in seven FBI background investigations. No evidence was found by the FBI to corroborate the allegations made against him or to make me change the support I announced for him in July.”

Speculation about how Gardner would vote on the nomination of Kavanaugh, who has been accused by three women — including one who lives in Boulder — of sexual misconduct, has been swirling ahead of Saturday’s high-stakes vote.

Gardner has been facing intense pressure over Kavanaugh’s nomination, especially following reports that he was undecided on how he would vote.

“We live in a country where both sides should always be heard,” Gardner’s statement added. “Victimized women that come forward are brave and courageous. Every victim of abuse, assault, and violence has been through an unspeakable tragedy and we need to do a better job listening to them, ensuring support is available, and fighting to end abuse of any kind. I hope that the partisan divide we all feel today does not hinder the people that have bravely come forward.”

Colorado’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet has said he will reject the nomination. 

Earlier on Friday, Gardner voted “yes” on a procedural, cloture vote to end debate on Kavanaugh’s nomination and move toward a final vote. Bennet voted “no.”

The cloture vote tally was 51-49, suggesting a tense showdown ahead of Saturday’s final tally.

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Jesse Paul

The Colorado Sun — jesse@coloradosun.com Desk: 720-432-2229 Jesse Paul is a political reporter and editor at The Colorado Sun, covering the state legislature, Congress and local politics. He is...