When Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) took to the Senate floor on Tuesday and declared the Russia investigation to be "case closed," he sent a strong message to Democrats: it's time to move on and get something done. Naturally though, his words triggered the Left.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attempted to spin McConnell's words.
"It's about getting results for the American people," Pelosi said in response to McConnell's remarks.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "On the floor of the Senate, Senator McConnell is reported to be saying, 'It doesn't matter if we hear from Mueller, case closed, case closed.' No, I don't think so. I don't think so." pic.twitter.com/ouOtz3VAsf
— The Hill (@thehill) May 7, 2019
According to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), McConnell is "aiding and abetting" Russia by "refusing to do anything" to combat meddling in the United States' elections. He even went as far as suggesting that President Trump wants the Russians to interfere in our elections because "he's telling McConnell to do nothing."
Sen. Chuck Schumer: "Leader McConnell delivered an astonishing speech on the Senate Floor. He actually tried to blame Democrats & praised the Trump Admin. on election security. What a joke. The Trump aspects of not telling the truth on anything have seeped deep into the Senate." pic.twitter.com/u3vGaEEUPl
— The Hill (@thehill) May 7, 2019
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released the following joint statement on McConnell's comments:
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Senator McConnell’s declaration of ‘case closed’ is a stunning act of political cynicism and a brazen violation of the oath we all take. The Special Counsel report laid out eleven instances of the President’s obstruction, and left a raft of unanswered questions about coordination between the President’s campaign and Russia. These are not trivial or political questions – they go to the wellspring of our democracy. When a President is allowed to violate the law with impunity, and when a foreign power is allowed to interfere in our elections, it gnaws at the roots of the great oak that is our democracy, and could very well topple it.
On every issue that matters in people’s lives, the Administration and a complicit Republican Senate are waging an unprecedented, unwarranted, unconstitutional and utterly dangerous campaign of stonewalling. Senator McConnell continues to brag about being the ‘grim reaper,’ sending bipartisan House legislation to a Senate legislative graveyard, as the Administration refuses to respect Congress’s constitutional oversight role and provide Congress and the American people with the truth.
There is a dark connection in Washington between Senator McConnell, Attorney General Barr and President Trump: each preventing progress for the people, acting as handmaidens to a special interest agenda that is anti-government, anti-science and against meeting the needs of hard-working families.
Others took to Twitter to voice their disdain for McConnell. The common theme, from the Democrats' perspective, is that McConnell is doing everything in his power to protect Trump.
Mitch McConnell says it’s “case closed,” even though Mueller found substantial evidence Trump broke the law.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) May 7, 2019
That’s like saying the Watergate hearings should never have taken place.
Or that crime doesn’t matter when committed by a president of your party.
It matters.
President Trump doesn't respect the separation of powers and Mitch McConnell is blocking progress every step of the way. We must take back the White House and the Senate in 2020. Are you with me?
— Jeff Merkley (@JeffMerkley) May 7, 2019
McConnell’s “case closed” comments from this morning have prompted two Dem senators, Warren and and Durbin, to read directly from the Mueller report on the floor, and another call for impeachment from Warren
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) May 7, 2019
You and I both took an oath, @SenateMajLdr McConnell. To defend the Constitution of the United States – not to protect @realDonaldTrump. Congress must consider the evidence provided in the Mueller Report and hold the President accountable. https://t.co/H2aoBCl7AD
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 7, 2019
McConnell hasn't said what the average American thinks: Democrats need to move on. McConnell has not said anything about stopping investigations into how Russians interfered in our elections. What he's saying is the investigations into the Trump campaign and the collusion conspiracy need to end.
None of us want Putin and his cronies meddling our elections. We want them to be safe and secure. There's nothing wrong with talking about how we can improve our security in that regard. But Democrats need to stop equating McConnell saying to put a cork in it on Mueller's findings with no longer looking into how to secure our elections. The two are not mutually exclusive.
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