Flake Rebukes Trump Jr. for Mocking Kavanaugh’s Accuser

(Bloomberg) -- Senator Jeff Flake called out Donald Trump Jr. for making fun of the sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh by comparing it to a grade-school crush.

“This is sickening. No one should make light of this situation,” the Arizona Republican tweeted on Wednesday, including a photo from Trump Jr.’s earlier Instagram post, which is a note in childlike handwriting that says: “Will you be my girlfriend, Love Bret.” The note includes boxes to check for “yes” or “no.”

Flake, a frequent critic of President Trump who is not running for re-election, has urged Kavanaugh’s accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, to accept an invitation from the Senate Judiciary Committee to hear her allegation either in public or private. Flake is a member of the panel.

Ford’s lawyers say she wants the FBI to investigate the matter before she will testify. The California college professor says Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a party when the two were in high school. Kavanaugh has denied the incident ever happened.

Trump Jr. has re-tweeted other people critical of the claim against his father’s Supreme Court nominee. He was widely criticized for his Instagram post on Saturday.

“Oh boy... the Dems and their usual nonsense games really have him on the ropes now. Finestine had the letter in July and saved it for the eve of his vote,” Trump Jr. wrote in the post, misspelling the name of California Senator Dianne Feinstein. “Honorable as always. I believe this is a copy for full transparency.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Kim Chipman in Chicago at kchipman@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Derek Wallbank at dwallbank@bloomberg.net, Laurie Asséo, Alex Wayne

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