Former federal prosecutor Andrew C. McCarthy is blasting Senate Democrats for launching a last-minute sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh and noting that such tactics by the left and uncertainty by Republicans in how to respond is a major factor in why Republican voters went with Donald Trump two years ago.

He's also weighing in on the significance of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleading guilty to felony charges and agreeing to cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Kavanaugh seemed to be on a smooth path to confirmation until the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein released a vague letter about an allegation against Kavanaugh. 

In recent days, we know that Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of forcing himself upon her at a 1982 party when both were teenagers.  Kavanaugh categorically denies any wrongdoing with respect to Ford or anyone else.

McCarthy says Feinstein's approach stinks.

"I think it's really a disgrace that this came out the way that it did.  Sen. Feinstein knew about this in July, sat down and had face-to-face interviews with this guy.  She questioned him at a public hearing, questioned him at a private hearing.  They never mentioned a word of it. 

"They spring this at the last minute, at the moment the guy is about to get a committee vote," said McCarthy.

Kavanaugh seemed on track to secure all Republican votes in the Senate, but now at least four of them are demanding more hearings to get more information from Ford and Kavanaugh.  

Some GOP politicos are suggesting Trump drop the Kavanaugh nomination since he'd be tarnished for decades even if none of this is true.  McCarthy says that instinct is exactly why Trump got elected.

"He urges that you fight the way the Democrats fight.  You fight aggressively the way the Democrats fight.  You break the rules if you have to, the way the Democrats do.  I hate that that's the way our politics are, but it sure looks to me that that's exactly the way they are," said McCarthy.

Listen here to hear all of McCarthy's comments on the Kavanaugh controversy, and why he does not think Manafort's plea deal is as significant as some partisans hope or fear it will be.