Senator Jeff Flake on Justice Kavanaugh Confirmation Process (C-SPAN)

During his retirement interview with C-SPAN's Steve Scully, Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) discussed recent events related to the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Clips in this video have been edited together. Excerpts below. Full interview airs Saturday, October 13 at 10pm ET on C-SPAN.

Jeff Flake: "We Republicans should have called for an FBI investigation earlier."

Steve Scully: Have you since talked to Justice Kavanaugh?

Jeff Flake: "I've not. He did send me a voicemail. Frankly, I've looked at what's happened since he's been confirmed and to see our party kind of spiking the ball in the end zone it just doesn't seem right. Doesn't seem right. This is an impartial referee that we're putting on the Court, I thought he gave a magnanimous and appropriate speech at the White House, but the fact that there's even an event to celebrate, with only Republicans there, no Democrats, I just didn't think that that was right. So, I haven't said much about it."

Jeff Flake: "Last week when I called for a delay, that was not well-received by leadership. It was not."

Jeff Flake: "Leadership was not happy. They weren't, but they knew that that was the only way that they might be able to get our vote. And so, we presented it and they had to accept it."

Steve Scully: "Do you think looking back that Senator Feinstein should have at least had a conversation with Chairman Chuck Grassley about the letter early on?

Jeff Flake: "Yes, I do. I do. I'm not one who believes that she leaked it. I've dealt with her for a long time and I think that she did her best to protect Dr. Ford. But, somebody leaked it at some point and that was really not fair to Dr. Ford. I do think it would have been better if had sat down early on…"