Current Events > In Dramatic Reversal, Flake Seeks Additional FBI Investigation Into Kavanaugh

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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-senate-judiciary.html

WASHINGTON The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines on Friday to advance Judge Brett M. Kavanaughs nomination to the full Senate, but in a dramatic reversal, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona said he would not support final confirmation until the F.B.I. investigates accusations of sexual assault leveled against Judge Kavanaugh.

Mr. Flake, an Arizona Republican, had said in a statement Friday morning that he would vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh, President Trumps Supreme Court nominee, less than 24 hours after a remarkable public hearing with a woman accusing him of sexual assault.

But after hushed negotiations with Democrats outside the hearing room, Mr. Flake, who is retiring at the end of the term, chose a different course. His decision threw the the nomination into uncertainty just moments before the panel was set to vote.

This country is being ripped apart here and weve got to make sure that we do due diligence, he said.

I think it would be proper to delay the floor vote for up to but not more than one week in order to let the F.B.I. to do an investigation limited in time and scope to the current allegations that are there, he said.

Senators could not immediately get ahold of the F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, according to a person familiar with their discussions, and spoke on Friday afternoon to Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, about whether the limited investigation could be done in a week. The White House was lobbying Mr. Flake against his call for a delay in the confirmation vote, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

Other Republicans on the panel have lined up in support of Judge Kavanaugh as he denied the accusations, particularly after hearing tearful and compelling accounts from Judge Kavanaugh and the accuser, Christine Blasey Ford. Democrats have accused Republicans of a cover-up.

Just after Mr. Flakes statement saying he would vote yes, several activists cornered him at an elevator as he was on his way to the committee meeting.
Look at me when Im talking to you, one of them said. You are telling me that my assault doesnt matter, that what happened to me doesnt, and that youre going to let people who do these things into power. Thats what youre telling me when you vote for him. Dont look away from me.

Mr. Flake stood largely mute, his gaze mainly to the ground, as the women held open the elevator and made their case.

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Unfortunately, too little, too late.
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Senators could not immediately get ahold of the F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, according to a person familiar with their discussions, and spoke on Friday afternoon to Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, about whether the limited investigation could be done in a week. The White House was lobbying Mr. Flake against his call for a delay in the confirmation vote, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
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