The impact of Sen. Jeff Flake’s (R-Ariz.) threat to vote against any of Trump’s court picks unless he gets a vote on the Mueller bill has been on full display this week, with Republicans leaning on Vice President Pence to break a tie on a procedural vote and several nominations expected to languish in the Senate Judiciary Committee absent an agreement.

Leadership is privately measuring support for the Mueller bill and a possible vote on the legislation to satisfy Flake and get him to drop his opposition to judicial nominees…

Conceding to Flake’s demands isn’t without potential headaches for leadership, even if a vote on the bill falls short. The measure would put a spotlight on GOP infighting and eat up days of floor time if opponents object to bringing it up quickly as Republicans face a chaotic end-of-year floor schedule.