The Kentucky Republican blocked two measures last week that would have beefed up election security.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday fired back at critics who accused him of being a “Russian asset” after he blocked legislation last week that would have strengthened U.S. election security.
“I was called unpatriotic, un-American and essentially treasonous by a couple of left-wing pundits on the basis of bold-faced lies,” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor, denouncing the “shameful” attacks as “modern-day McCarthyism.”
On Friday, MSNBC host and former GOP Rep. Joe Scarborough lit into McConnell after he blocked two election security measures. Democrats attempted to expedite passage of the measures via a unanimous consent request after Robert Mueller, the former special counsel, testified Wednesday about continued Russian meddling in U.S. elections.
“He is aiding and abetting [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s ongoing attempts to subvert U.S. democracy, according to the Republican FBI, CIA” and director of national intelligence, Scarborough said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “All Republicans are saying Russia is trying to subvert U.S. democracy, and Moscow Mitch won’t even let the Senate take a vote on it. That is un-American.”
Dana Milbank, a columnist for The Washington Post, wrote a post Friday provocatively titled “Mitch McConnell is a Russian asset.” Milbank accused McConnell of being “unpatriotic” and “doing [Putin’s] bidding” by blocking election security legislation.
A visibly riled McConnell responded in a blistering speech on Monday, calling Scarborough and Milbank “hyperventilating hacks” who’d distorted his record.
