Conservatives are furious that GOP Sen. Jeff Flake might wreck Kavanaugh's confirmation vote
After Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) voted to recommend Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh but called for a one-week delay of the full Senate vote on his confirmation, conservatives unleashed fury over his last-minute complication.
"Jeff Flake is an absolute disgrace," said conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, "He's clinging to relevance." Also calling Flake a "disgrace," conservative personality Michelle Malkin called a potential investigation a useless "charade."
Flake had told the Senate Judiciary Committee ahead of its vote that he would "only be comfortable [voting yes on the floor if] the FBI has done more investigation than they have already," saying his Democratic counterparts are "justifiably uncomfortable moving ahead" and that "this country's being ripped apart" by the controversy. Kavanaugh has been accused by three women of sexual misconduct, which he vehemently denied during a hearing on Thursday, following testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, who says he once forcibly groped her.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Other prominent conservatives said a short investigation would do nothing but fan the flames that have engulfed the confirmation process. "Yes, Jeff Flake, I'm sure another week of this circus will definitely cool passions when next we take a vote," wrote The Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro.
Fellow swing voter Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), however, was reportedly on board with Flake's decision to throw a wrench in the GOP's efforts to confirm Kavanaugh as quickly as possible. She agreed that the FBI should have an investigation that is "limited in scope," but some Kavanaugh supporters found it ridiculous that the Senate should have any control over the FBI's work.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
What a rising gold price says about the global economyThe Explainer Institutions, central banks and speculators drive record surge amid ‘loss of trust’ in bond markets and US dollar
-
‘Laughing stock’: Anthony Joshua’s £140m bout with Jake PaulTalking Point Boxing fans have expressed concerns the YouTuber may not survive the fight with British heavyweight
-
A dreamy skiing adventure in NisekoThe Week Recommends Light, deep, dry snow and soothing hot springs are drawing skiers to Japan’s northernmost island
-
Ecuador rejects push to allow US military basesSpeed Read Voters rejected a repeal of a constitutional ban on US and other foreign military bases in the country
-
Trump pivots on Epstein vote amid GOP defectionsSpeed Read The president said House Republicans should vote on a forced release of the Justice Department’s Jeffrey Epstein files
-
Trump DOJ sues to block California redistrictingSpeed Read California’s new congressional map was drawn by Democrats to flip Republican-held House seats
-
GOP retreats from shutdown deal payout provisionSpeed Read Senators are distancing themselves from a controversial provision in the new government funding package
-
Catholic bishops rebuke Trump on immigrationSpeed Read ‘We feel compelled’ to ‘raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity,’ the bishops said
-
House releases Epstein emails referencing TrumpSpeed Read The emails suggest Trump knew more about Epstein’s sex trafficking of underage women than he has claimed
-
Newsom slams Trump’s climate denial at COP30speed read Trump, who has called climate change a ‘hoax,’ declined to send any officials to this week’s summit
-
UK, Colombia halt intel to US over boat attacksSpeed Read Both countries have suspended intelligence sharing with the US over the bombing of civilian boats suspected of drug smuggling
