Ron DeSantis on Brett Kavanaugh allegations: Timing is 'dirty pool on the part of the Democrats'

TAMPA -- Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis is blaming Democrats for mishandling allegations raised against President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee.

At an education event Tuesday in Tampa, the former congressman said Democrats should have raised concerns about Judge Brett Kavanaugh's alleged past sexual misconduct earlier.

"They've had this information, they did not ask him about it and now we're kind of going through that," DeSantis said outside of Tampa's Franklin Middle School. "So that smacks to me as a little dirty pool on the part of the Democrats."

DeSantis said he didn't have all of the information about the case because he no longer serves in Washington. He did not say whether he found the accusation by Christine Blasey Ford against Kavanaugh to be credible.

Much like DeSantis, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have blamed Democrats for sitting on the allegation.

Gov. Rick Scott, who's running for the U.S. Senate, also blamed Democrats for withholding the allegation in a statement Tuesday. Scott said Ford deserves a "fair hearing" and Kavanaugh "deserves to have the chance to clear his name."

Rubio on Kerry

Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio is calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate former Secretary of State John Kerry for meeting with high-level Iranian officials after leaving his position.

Kerry, the author of the Iran Nuclear Deal that most Republicans oppose, was President Barack Obama's top diplomat during his second term. The Boston Globe reported in May that Kerry met with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif after leaving office to discuss ways to keep the deal intact.

Current Secretary of State and Rubio ally Mike Pompeo blasted the meetings as "beyond inappropriate" and Trump tweeted his displeasure.

Rubio's letter asks Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate whether Kerry violated the Logan Act, which prohibits unauthorized individuals from negotiating with foreign governments.

McClatchey Washington Bureau staff writer Alex Daugherty contributed to this report.