Blasted by Trump and others for Kavanaugh vote, Murkowski says she focused on the issue at hand, not possible retribution

This story has been updated in a new article here. 

Applauded by many but derided by President Donald Trump and many others, Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Saturday her opposition to Brett Kavanaugh's appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court was driven by the facts at hand, not possible political retaliation down the road.

"As a senator I've got one obligation here," said Murkowski, R-Alaska. "I have to do the work that I believe is necessary in order to inform my decision, weigh and evaluate and use the best judgement I can and ultimately vote  my conscience. I expect every one of my colleagues to do the same."

Trump, in a phone interview with the Washington Post Saturday, said Murkowski will not survive re-election in 2022 because of outrage in Alaska over her opposition to Kavanaugh.

The head of Alaska's Republican Party, disappointed over her opposition, has threatened that a significant response to Murkowski's opposition is required, while former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tweeted that she could see 2022 from her house, prompting some pundits to speculate that Palin might take Murkowski on in her next re-election battle.

[Murkowski says it was Kavanaugh's temperament — not Alaska Native issues or abortion — that swayed her vote]

The Senate on Saturday voted 50-48 to confirm Kavanaugh to the court, a decision expected to push the court to the right for years and one that was hotly opposed by many, especially after three women brought decades-old sexual misconduct allegations, which he strenuously denied, against him.

Murkowski, in an interview Saturday with two Alaska reporters, including the Daily News, said she had been hearing from Alaskans on both sides of the issue since Kavanaugh was nominated by Trump in July.

She said there was not one key moment that prompted her to vote against him.

[Watch and read Murkowski's full Senate speech on why she's not supporting Kavanaugh]

But she said on Friday that Kavanaugh's temperament, underscored by sometimes sharp exchanges with questioners last week as he denied accusations of sexual misconduct, were not befitting a nominee seeking a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land.

"I understand there are consequences to our actions, whether  it's a vote on a Supreme Court nominee or a vote on a tax bill," she said. "There are consequences and if I were to worry everyday about political repercussions or someone saying they were going to run against me, or saying something in newspaper story, I wouldn't be able to do the job Alaskans expect me to do."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.