Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) early Wednesday criticized President Trump for his mocking comments about Christine Blasey Ford, the first woman to accuse Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, calling Trump’s remarks at a rally “kind of appalling.”
“There’s no time and no place for remarks like that,” Flake said on NBC’s “Today” when asked about Trump’s comments late Tuesday in Mississippi.
{mosads}”To discuss something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right, it’s just not right. I wish he hadn’t done it. It’s kind of appalling,” Flake added.
During the rally, Trump mocked testimony given by Ford, who testified Thursday in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on her allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school.
“‘How did you get home?'” Trump said, imitating Ford. “‘I don’t remember.’ ‘How’d you get there?’ ‘I don’t remember.’ ‘Where is the place?’ I don’t remember.’ ‘How many years ago was it?’ ‘I don’t know.'”
“‘What neighborhood was it in?'” he continued, as the crowd cheered and clapped. “‘I don’t know.’ ‘Where’s the house?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Upstairs, downstairs, where was it?’ ‘I don’t know, but I had one beer.’ ‘That’s the only thing I remember.'”
Trump’s comments prompted laughter and applause from the audience at the rally.
Ford is one of three women, along with Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, who have publicly accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. The FBI is currently looking into those accusations as part of a reopened background investigation into Kavanaugh.
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) also criticized Trump over his remarks at the rally, saying the comments made him feel “sick.”
“I watched it two or three times. It made me feel sort of sick,” he said on CNN’s “New Day” early Wednesday.