Last Updated on February 17, 2022
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), has been censured – in a unanimous vote – by a Kentucky County Republican Party for defying the Republican Party in Congress last week when he lashed out against President Trump, seemingly siding with Democrats in a move to impeach one of the most popular Republican presidents.
“The last time the Senate convened, we had just reclaimed the Capitol from violent criminals who tried to stop congress from doing our duty. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the President and other powerful people,” McConnell said in a speech on the floor of the US Senate. “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.”
“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 choice for their 46th president,” McConnell added.
McConnell’s Senate floor speech prompted Nelson County, Kentucky GOP leaders to convene an emergency session to address McConnell’s conduct. The Republican organization voted unanimously to censure the Senator for his comments.
The Nelson Co Kentucky GOP voted to censure Mitch McConnell today, saying "McConnell has abandoned his Republican base that put him in office.”
https://t.co/EcIypKjKHt via @KyStandard— Ryland Barton (@RylandKY) January 20, 2021
“This has shown his true colors,” Nelson County GOP Chairman Don Thrasher said. “We felt today during his floor speech in 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 has been evasive when asked if he will vote to convict in any impeachment that may come before the Senate for trial. He has stated that any vote cast will be a “vote of conscience,” a statement that saw US Rep. Liz Cheney censured by a Republican organization in Wyoming.
Kentucky GOP leaders censure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell after floor speech saying Capitol Hill mob was 'provoked' by Trump.https://t.co/TY33iF89JT pic.twitter.com/aUowbcWKTd
— NEWS CENTER Maine (@newscentermaine) January 20, 2021
In light of the prospect of an impeachment trial in the Senate, Thrasher has also proposed a resolution calling on McConnell to vote to acquit former-President Trump.
Thrasher said the move is “basically calling for Senator McConnell to support President Trump and denounce the second impeachment as divisive.”
