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.
-
Political cartoons for October 26Cartoons Sunday’s editorial cartoons include Young Republicans group chat, Louvre robbery, and more
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
