Flake Apologizes for Son's 'Unacceptable' Tweets

Freshman Sen. Jeff Flake has apologized for his 15-year-old son Tanner's use of homophobic, anti-Semitic language on Twitter.

"I'm very disappointed in my teenage son's words, and I sincerely apologize for the insensitivity," the Arizona Republican said in a statement to BuzzFeed. "This language is unacceptable, anywhere. Needless to say, I've already spoken with him about this, he has apologized, and I apologize as well."

The younger Flake used a homophobic slur to threaten the person who stole his bike, adding that he would find the person and "beat the crap out of you." He also posted an anti-Semitic tweet and used a racist name in an online game, reports the website.

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Although the teen has since locked his Twitter account, a series of tweets from January and February show he repeatedly used the slurs.

The incident comes on the heels of the senator's Memorial Day weekend four-day trip with his two youngest sons, Tanner and 13-year-old Dallin, to a deserted Micronesian island.

When he launched his Senate bid nearly two years ago, Flake, 50, promised the pair that when the campaign was over he would take them on a survivalist trip similar to one he took four years ago, reports The Washington Post.

During the congressional recess, Flake did just that, taking them to the unoccupied island of Biggarenn, part of the Marshall Islands, where they had to fend for themselves for food and water.

“For a dad,it was a wonderful thing. No video games around, no television, no distractions, no texting,” Flake told the Post.

"We came back a little thinner. Maybe a little wiser."