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.
Subscribe to 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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
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.
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published