Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), considered to be a swing vote for the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, called upon his colleagues to show “a little humility” in the face of “doubt and uncertainty” regarding Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations against the nominee.
Speaking before the hearing today, during which the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimonies from both Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford, Flake thanked Chairman Grassley for showing the accuser respect and taking her allegations seriously:
When Dr. Ford came forward with her account, I immediately said that she should be heard and asked the Chairman to delay the vote that we had scheduled. The Chairman did, and I appreciate that.
She came at great difficulty for her and offered compelling testimony. You’ve come and done the same. I am sorry for what’s happened to you and your family, as I’m sorry for what has happened to hers.
This is not a good process, but it’s all we’ve got, and I would just urge my colleagues to recognize that in the end, we are 21 very imperfect senators trying to do our best to provide advice and consent.
And in the end, there is likely to be as much doubt and uncertainty going out of this room today, and as we make decisions going forward, I hope that people will recognize that, and in the rhetoric that we use and the language that we use going forward, that we’ll recognize that, that there is doubt. We’ll never move beyond that. Just have a little humility on that front.
The comments from Flake reflected those he made yesterday on the Senate floor during which he referred to the two parties as “human beings, with families and children — people who love them and people whom they love and live for — and each is suffering through the very ugly process that we have created.”
Indeed, many of Flake’s colleagues on the committee pointed out that both Dr. Ford and Brett Kavanaugh had their humanity violated throughout this process, most especially by Sen. Dianne Feinstein for waiting until the last minute to reveal allegations she had in her possession for over six weeks.
Jeff Flake has not revealed if he will vote to recommend Kavanaugh out of the Judiciary Committee or if he will vote for his confirmation. “It’s a tough one,” he told Fox News after the hearing Thursday. “She offered good testimony, and so did he.”
But Flake also stressed that Ford has no corroborating evidence backing her claim, the witnesses she named having all denied any knowledge of her allegations. “If you’re making an allegation, you want there to be some corroboration. Where is the burden? It’s like impeachment. You don’t know,” he said.
As for taking more time for investigations, Flake dismissed the idea. “Where does this start, and where does it end? More time, more ludicrous allegations. What does that do to the accused?” he said.