Sen. Chuck Grassley let reporters know in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t happy with their coverage of the protests on Capitol Hill of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, citing what he called an example of their “bias.”

“Now, I would never use the word ‘fake news.’ I consider you folks the policemen for our democratic system of government,” the Iowa Republican said Thursday at a Republican press conference. “But I want to show you where some of you have bias.”

Grassley told reporters about what he witnessed in his own office in support of his accusation of media bias.

“I’ve had demonstrators in my office for two weeks now,” he said, “both for Kavanaugh and against Kavanaugh.”

And one time the people that were for Kavanaugh wanted to be interviewed, and [the reporters] said they we’re only interested in interviewing people against Kavanaugh.

Now that’s a bias none of you should be proud of.

Grassley urged the reporters in attendance to change their approach in the future.

“I would like to have the future of mending things so that we can do things in a collegial way that the U.S. Senate ought to do—and particularly when it comes to the Supreme Court nomination, and you folks can have something to do with this,” he said.

Grassley’s office did not return emails or calls requesting further comment.

The Iowa lawmaker’s call for a less partisan approach in the Senate and in the media came a day before Kavanaugh passed a major hurdle in the confirmation process.

On Friday morning, the Senate voted to end debate and proceed to a vote this weekend on whether to confirm Kavanaugh.

Friday’s 51-49 vote was almost entirely along party lines, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska the only Republican voting “no,” and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia the sole Democrat to vote “yes.”

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