Republican Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) is on the Senate Judiciary Committee and he said Sunday evening that until he learns more about the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh, he is not comfortable voting yes.
Burgess Everett of POLITICO updated his story on Republican Senator Jeff Flake opposing “a quick vote on Kavanaugh, putting confirmation in doubt” after Professor Christine Blasey Ford came forward Sunday with her credible sexual assault allegations against Judge Kavanaugh.
“Sen. Jeff Flake, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in an interview Sunday evening that until he learns more about the sexual assault allegation regarding Brett Kavanaugh, he is “not comfortable voting yes†on Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court at a scheduled Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday.
The Arizona senator is one of 11 Republicans on the narrowly divided panel, and without his support, the nomination cannot move forward given Democratic opposition. “We need to hear from her. And I don’t think I’m alone in this,†Flake told POLITICO.
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Indeed he is not alone, as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) – also on the Judiciary Committee – also said he would be willing to hear from the alleged victim:
My statement on Judge Kavanaugh. pic.twitter.com/QGz3uUyzC9
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 16, 2018
Graham, of course, seems to think speedily getting through the already dubious “vetting” process (a vetting with hidden documents and misrepresentations during the confirmation hearings no less) of an already less than credible person, Brett Kavanaugh, is more important than hearing from a woman who described what he did to her as a “rape attack.”
Republicans have a problem, because they are already branded as the party of predators. They stood by Donald Trump even after he confessed to sexual assault on tape, on top of the numerous accusations made against him by women from all walks of life and his vicious attacks on female journalists, including calling them “c*nts” when they wrote accurate portrayals of him.
Senator Flake stands alone in seeing possible sexual assault against a woman as more important than giving his party a quick win. The Republican Party can still have its win, they are predicted to win the senate. But perhaps they could choose someone for a lifetime appointment who is not credibly accused — Ms. Ford passed a lie detector test administered by the FBI – of sexual assault.
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