Fighting a horse-sized duck: Sen. Jeff Flake gets goofy during Gorsuch questioning
Sen. Jeff Flake used his perch on the Judiciary Committee to lob some offbeat questions Tuesday at President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch.
Flake, R-Ariz., said he solicited questions from his family, which includes 10 siblings and five children.
From his teenage son Dallin came this one, by way of the website Reddit:
"Ask him if he would rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck," Flake said to Gorsuch, a judge from Colorado who sits on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "I've never heard it, either. Apparently it was a question on Reddit a while ago."
Gorsuch responded: "You can tell him I'm very rarely at a loss for words, but you got me."
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Flake followed up with another from another relative.
"My brother Scott asks if you've ever worn gym shorts and a tank top under your robe?"
"Senator, on that one, we have what's called the Fifth Amendment, which is part of the Bill of Rights as well, and which, of course, protects the right not to self-incriminate," Gorsuch said. "I might have to exercise my rights under the Fifth Amendment for that one."
"That is a good answer," Flake said.
Flake's exchange with Gorsuch came late in a hearing that was expected to last 10 hours. Flake's questions contributed to a lighter mood. There is no drama about where the senator stands with regard to the nomination: He has already explicitly expressed support for Gorsuch.
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Back at the hearing, Flake's mom wanted to know how Gorsuch liked "to get his hands dirty" and if he liked to ski.
"Our family loves to ski together," Gorsuch told Flake. "That is one of our favorite activities. My daughters are ferocious double black-diamond skiers," referring to runs that require expertise.
Gorsuch's confirmation hearing continues Wednesday with more questions from senators on the Judiciary Committee.
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Nowicki is The Arizona Republic's national political reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @dannowicki and on his official Facebook page.
