Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was censured this week by fellow Republicans in his home state of Kentucky after he accused President Trump of provoking a violent mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the Kentucky Daily News reported.
“The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people,” McConnell said on the U.S. Senate floor, Tuesday. “And they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like,” he added. “But we pressed on. We stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation. Not even for one night. We certified the people’s clear choice for their 46th president.”
McConnell’s speech prompted Nelson County GOP leaders to hold an emergency meeting about six hours later, voting unanimously to issue a formal rebuke of McConnell Tuesday evening. All 11 members of the executive committee voted in favor of a resolution censuring McConnell for his comments.
A censure, or formal rebuke, issued after the vote accused McConnell of “implying (Trump) and his administration lied about the election,” and that “McConnell has abandoned his Republican base that put him in office.”
The censure resolution “demands (McConnell) retract his statements impugning the honor of President Donald J. Trump.”
Republicans in Kentucky were appalled by McConnell’s backstabbing comments.
“This has shown his true colors,” Nelson County GOP Chairman Don Thrasher said. “We felt today during his floor speech on the Senate where he impugned the character of President Trump was unacceptable to us. his whole behavior overall through this whole process of the last week is not consistent with what he promised us when he was running for re-election.”
McConnell hasn’t said how he will vote in the second impeachment trial of President Trump, which is set to take place in February, but has said that it will be based on facts.
Thrasher has reportedly proposed a resolution calling on McConnell to vote to acquit Trump.
“Basically calling for Senator McConnell to support President Trump and denounce the second impeachment as divisive,” Thrasher said.
“I have at least 50 other chairs and vice-chairs that have signed on for our resolution,” Thrasher said. “this is a deal-breaker for a lot of Republicans.”
Kentucky’s GOP central committee will meet for a specially-called meeting Sat. Jan 23 to discuss and vote on the resolution, introduced by Thrasher. There are over 300 members, which included county GOP chairs and vice-chairs, as well as all Republican elected state officials.
According to Thrasher, the process for special meetings requires a 15% quorum to start the meeting and anyone who attends the meeting will be eligible to vote. A simple majority of those present and voting would be enough to pass the resolution.
Kentucky voters said they felt betrayed in the Nelson GOP’s teleconference meeting that was organized by Thrasher.
“I think it’s despicable. I think it’s a shame what he did today, because he used us over the past year to get his sorry butt reelected,” said a participant in the call. “He used us.”
That Republican said censure “was not good enough,” and that McConnell should be removed. “He’s one of Joe Biden’s best friends,” he complained, according to the Kentucky Standard.
Another caller complained that McConnell’s staff hung up on her when she called his office.
“He’s a RINO,” the caller said, meaning “Republican in Name Only.”
“If you’re trying to build bridges, there’s no bridges in a fraudulent election,” the caller added.