GOP Sen. Jeff Flake says Kavanaugh struck him as 'raw' but right if he's 'unjustly accused'

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's testimony gave the impression of someone who was rightfully angry, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said in a preview released Sunday of a 60 Minutes appearance he made with Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.). Flake, who is not seeking re-election, was instrumental in ensuring there would be a week-long FBI investigation, beginning this past Friday, into the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh.

"To see his family behind him, as Chris said, it was anger — but if I were unjustly accused, that's how I would feel as well," Flake said. "As it went on, I think his interaction with some of the members was a little too sharp. But the statement in the beginning I thought was pretty raw, but in keeping with someone who had been unjustly accused."

Coons had a different impression. "[Kavanaugh] was clearly belligerent, aggressive, angry," he said. "And I thought there was a tough dynamic there. As I watched him, part of me thought, 'This is a man who believes that he did nothing wrong, and he's completely unjustly accused. And he's being railroaded. And he's furious about it.'"

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Both senators condemned the partisanship in Kavanaugh's self-defense, though Flake was willing to allow him "a little leeway."

Watch a preview of the 60 Minutes interview below. The full interview airs at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Sunday on CBS. Bonnie Kristian