Flake stokes presidential speculation as court debate rages

The Republican senator who suddenly sits at the centre of the explosive Supreme Court debate vowed Monday to ensure the FBI does “a real investigation” into President Donald Trump’s nominee as he trekked across New England while exploring a possible run for president.

“It does us no good to have an investigation that just gives us more cover,” Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake told hundreds of young people at the Forbes Under 30 Summit.

Flake’s comments come as the White House insisted it’s not “micromanaging” the new one-week review of decades-old allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Some Democratic lawmakers claimed the White House was keeping investigators from interviewing certain witnesses.

Flake delivered the message at a Boston conference hours before he faced New Hampshire voters for the second time this year.

The 55-year-old Republican, who is retiring from the Senate at the end of the year, has already declared his interest in a possible 2020 presidential bid - as a Republican or an independent - in part to stop Trump from winning a second term.

Three days ago, Flake singlehandedly delayed Kavanaugh’s confirmation proceedings by insisting on an FBI investigation as a condition for his support.

He told CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday that the conservative judge’s nomination would be “over” if federal investigators determine he lied to the committee.

Flake, a lifelong conservative has quickly emerged as the centerpiece of a passionate lobbying effort from the right and left.

Organizers of the Boston event said they moved the location to City Hall after security concerns emerged about the original location.