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WEBVTT JOINING US LIVE TO CONTINUE OUR TOO MANY COVERAGE AT FIVE MATT? >> FLAKE SAID HE CALLED ON THIS INVESTIGATION TO GIVE THE SENATE WHAT THEY NEED AND TO PROVE TO THE COUNTRY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THESE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS. >> IN AN EFFORT TO BRING THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER. >> DAYS AFTER THRUSTING HIMSELF INTO THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT, REQUESTING AN F.B.I. INVESTIGATION INTO SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BRETT KAVANAUGH, SENATOR JEFF FLAKE SPOKE IN BOSTON ABOUT THAT DECISION. >> THERE IS A LOT OF DOUBT STILL. THAT'S WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE F.B.I. DO MORE INVESTIGATING AND HAVE MORE INFORMATION, NOT LESS. >> THE NEARLY 20 MINUTE CONVERSATION HAPPENING TODAY AT THE FORBES UNDER 30 SUMMIT, ALMOST ENTIRELY ABOUT FLAKE'S ROLE IN THE KAVANAUGH HEARING AND INVESTIGATION. >> WE DON'T DO BIPARTISAN THINGS IN THE SENATE VERY OFTEN ANYMORE BUT I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DO THIS. >> AT TIMES FLAKE WAS APPLAUDED BUT DURING HIS ENTIRE SPEECH 10 PROTESTORS STOOD IN SILENCE HOLDING UP SIGNS SUPPORTING SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS. AND AT OTHER TIMES FLAKE WAS DROWNED OUT BY CHANTING. >> IT DOE NO GOOD TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION THAT JUST GIVES US MORE COVER, FOR EXAMPLE. WE ACTUALLY NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN FIND OUT. >> PROTESTORS URGING THE SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON A NOMINEE THEY FEEL HAS TO PLACE ON THE SUPREME COURT. >> I HOPE THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE SHOULD BE ACTION. >> WHEREVER HE'LL GO THERE WILL BE PEOPLE, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN SURVIVORS, WHO BELIEVE IN DR. FORD AND WHO ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE PROCESS OF THIS HEARING. >> HE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAKE THIS BIPARTISAN MOVE BECAUSE HE WAS NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. WHEN HE ASKED IF HE HAD CONSIDERED RUNNING

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The Republican senator who suddenly sits at the center 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 single-handedly 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.Hundreds of liberal protesters, victims of sexual assault among them, pleaded with Flake to block Kavanaugh's nomination outside the venue. Mayor Marty Walsh, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, Congressional candidate Ayanna Pressley and Democrat candidate for governor Jay Gonzalez joined several hundred people on Boston City Hall Plaza in advance of Flake's visit to the city.Monday's crowd, which included abortion rights activists and women who said they are survivors of sexual abuse, said they were calling on the Arizona Republican and the Senate in general to reject Kavanaugh.Among the signs at the rally were ones that read "#Stop Kavanaugh," and "Roe Yes, Kava No."Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, told the crowd there should be no duration on the supplemental FBI investigation of Kavanaugh and no limits on the scope of the investigation.Markey made clear he is opposed to Kavanaugh because his presence on the court would pose a danger to Roe v. Wade.In a statement Sunday night, Walsh said, “This moment in time will mark how we, as a country, respond to the call for action from women and individuals who have bravely spoken out about sexual assault."A similar demonstration was planned for New Hampshire.New York congressional candidate Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez warned Flake and other elected leaders that voters would end their careers should they support Trump's Supreme Court nominee. "We are going to keep pushing because justice in America is not just about protecting the powerful," Ocasio-Cortez charged. "It is about uplifting the voices that have been victimized." Walsh offered a direct message to the Republican senator from Arizona."I guess I want to say, 'Thank you,'" Walsh said. "But that's your job. That's your job to vet the nominee." The true test for Flake would come once the full Senate votes on the Kavanaugh nomination in the coming days, Walsh said. "He has an opportunity to do something very special at some point next week," the mayor said. Flake also spoke at New Hampshire's Saint Anselm College later in the day. That speech focused on the damage he believes tribalism has done to the country.In March, Flake told New Hampshire Republicans that someone needs to stop Trump in the 2020 presidential contest. Flake said he may run - either as a Republican or an independent - if no one else does. "It has not been in my plans to run for president, but I have not ruled it out," Flake said at the time."I hope that someone does run in the Republican primary, somebody to challenge the president," Flake said. "I think that the Republicans want to be reminded what it means to be a traditional, decent Republican."The Associated Press contributed to this report.