CBS "Face the Nation" - Transcript: Supreme Court Confirmation Process

Interview

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JOHN DICKERSON: But even the scope of that investigation has become controversial. We'll tell you why. CBS News' Scott Pelley spoke with Flake and the Democrat who helped prompt his decision, Delaware's Chris Coons, for tonight's 60 MINUTES. We'll have a preview. Then we'll hear from two key senators, one a supporter of Kavanaugh, Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton. Plus, Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar. Plus, a conversation with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. And author Michael Lewis, his new book is The Fifth Risk.

All that, along with plenty of political analysis is coming up now on FACE THE NATION.

Good morning and welcome to FACE THE NATION. Republican leaders hope to move forward with votes in the Senate later this week on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination as soon as the FBI concludes its investigation into current credible allegations against him. We begin with a preview of tonight's 60 MINUTES. Scott Pelley spoke to six members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, including Republican Jeff Flake and Democrat Chris coons.

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SCOTT PELLEY (60 MINUTES): I'd like to ask both of you what you made of Judge Kavanaugh's very emotional response on Friday and what it may or may not say about his judicial temperament. Does this man belong on the Supreme Court?

JEFF FLAKE (60 MINUTES): Well, when he came-- walked out, you could see him open his binder and put his paper here and we knew that he was eager to testify. And I have to say that when I heard him I heard someone who I hoped I would sound like if I had been unjustly accused. And to see his family behind him, as Chris said. And it was-- it was anger. But-- but if I were unjustly accused that's how I would feel as well. And I-- I've-- as it went on, I think his interaction with some of the members was a little too sharp. But the statement, the beginning I thought was pretty raw, but-- but in keeping with someone who had been unjustly accused.

CHRIS COONS (60 MINUTES): He-- he had exchanges with Senator Feinstein, with Senator Klobuchar, with others that I thought went over a line. He was clearly belligerent, aggressive, angry and I thought there was a tough dynamic there. As I watched him part of me thought this is a man who believes that he did nothing wrong and he is completely unjustly accused and he's being railroaded and he is furious about it. There were some lines that he delivered that were sharper, more partisan, more, this is the Clintons paying me back, this is a Democratic smear campaign that I was surprised, struck to hear from a judicial nominee. I'm not at all surprised to hear that from other colleagues in the committee or on television, but I was really struck that I thought his anger got the best of him and he made a partisan argument that would have been best left to be made for his advocates and defenders on the committee.

SCOTT PELLEY: Made you wonder about his suitability.

CHRIS COONS: In my case, yes, it made me wonder about his suitability to serve on the bench.

SCOTT PELLEY: But, Senator Flake, you identified with it you--

JEFF FLAKE: I--

SCOTT PELLEY: --you understood.

JEFF FLAKE: Well, the part that he talked about the mention of the Clintons and whatnot, I didn't like either. It-- it seemed partisan. But, boy, I had to put-- put myself in that spot. You know, I think you give a little leeway there.

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