By Douglas Ernst - The Washington Times - Friday, September 28, 2018

Sen. Lindsey Graham says no amount of high-pitched screaming by political activists will dissuade him from supporting Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The South Carolina Republican, who excoriated colleagues for their treatment of Judge Kavanaugh during Thursday’s Judiciary Committee testimony, told Fox News that howls and shrieks of activists cannot bend his will.

“These people can yell all they want to. Doesn’t matter. I believe Judge Kavanaugh and thought what they did to Judge Kavanaugh was despicable,” Mr. Graham said Friday while flanked by protesters within the Senate building.

The comments highlighted the divide between himself and Sen. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican, who was berated by an anti-Kavangaugh activist for five minutes while trying to enter an elevator.

SEE ALSO: Jeff Flake to support Brett Kavanaugh

“You’re telling all women in American they don’t matter,” a woman screamed. “That what happened to me doesn’t matter.”

The Republican-led committee approved Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, although it came with a call spearheaded by Mr. Flake for FBI resources to examine allegations by college professor Christine Blasey Ford that the nominee tried to rape her when the two were teenagers.

Ms. Blasey Ford could not give lawmakers a specific time or place of the alleged 1982 attack. She was also unable to provide corroborating witnesses.

“I do think we can have a short pause and make sure the FBI can investigate,” Mr. Flake said during Friday’s committee debate.

“The Senate Judiciary Committee will request that the administration instruct the FBI to conduct a supplemental FBI background investigation with respect to the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court,” the committee said in a statement.

The investigation “would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today.”

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

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