Brett Kavanaugh - LIVE: White House stands by Trump's mockery of Christine Ford as FBI probe continues ahead of confirmation vote

Americans remain heavily divided over Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, a new Gallup poll has shown. 

While 46 per cent say they believe Mr Kavanaugh should be confirmed, 45 per cent of respondents said they do not believe the embattled Supreme Court nominee should be voted onto the nation’s highest court. Meanwhile, just nine per cent said they have no opinion on the nomination. 

Joe Manchin, a Democratic senator seen as a possible “yes” vote on Brett Kavanaugh dependent on what a renewed FBI investigation brings against the embattled Supreme Court nominee, has spoken out against Donald Trump’s mockery of Christine Blasey Ford. 

The Democrat said the president’s attacks were “awful … very wrong.”

Bloomberg has reported that the FBI was not provided the ability to interview Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, as well as the Supreme Court nominee himself. 

Meanwhile, FBI Director Christopher Wray is reportedly “documenting what’s happening behind the scenes in order to help ensure the bureau’s activities in the politically charged investigation are captured and perhaps made public one day.”

Police in Washington have reportedly boosted security surrounding Capitol Hill as Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation battle stirs chaos and controversy. 

The move arrives after enormous protests have erupted across the country and nearby the Supreme Court, and as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed that such demonstrations “won’t intimidate” Republican lawmakers. 

Reports are indicating the FBI may soon hand over its report on Brett Kavanaugh to the White House, which would make it just a matter of time before it goes to review on Capitol Hill. 

A new NPR/PBS News Hour/Marist poll found that more Americans believe Christine Blasey Ford than Brett Kavanaugh surrounding her allegations of sexual assault against the Supreme Court nominee. 

Before the hearings, nearly 42 per cent of people said they were unsure which party to believe. After last week’s hearings, however, that number slid to just 22 per cent. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denying his request for an FBI briefing on the federal agency’s investigation into Brett Kavanaugh and sexual assault accusations against the Supreme Court nominee. 

The full letter can be read below. 

In an apparent attempt to speak with investigators about her sexual assault accusations against Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford has agreed to hand over personal documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee once they schedule an interview with her. 

“We have not yet heard from the FBI about scheduling an interview with her,” the letters, signed by two of Dr Ford’s lawyers, said Wednesday. 

Kamala Harris decried Donald Trump’s mockery of Christine Blasey Ford, saying his comments lack “any level of empathy” for the woman who accused his embattled Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault.