‘Written By Gaslight’: People Aren’t Buying McConnell’s Reasons For Acquitting Trump
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) attempted to explain in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal on Monday why he voted to acquit ex-President Donald Trump in his Senate impeachment trial for inciting the U.S. Capitol riot.
But critics weren’t buying McConnell’s reasoning and instead accused the Kentucky Republican of trying to have it both ways because he delayed holding the trial until Trump left office and then argued that Trump could not be convicted because he was not in office anymore.
The Senate on Saturday failed to reach the supermajority of 67 senators needed to convict Trump and ban him from holding office again. McConnell rebuked Trump soon after voting to acquit him, sparking backlash from Fox News’ Sean Hannity and other Trump apologists.
In his column, McConnell doubled down on his criticism of Trump, acknowledging the ex-president had pushed “unhinged falsehoods” about the 2020 election being stolen from him and said there was “no question” Trump bore “moral responsibility” for the insurrection.
But the Senate minority leader then argued impeachment is “a specific tool with a narrow purpose: restraining government officers” and suggested “the instant Donald Trump ceased being the president, he exited the Senate’s jurisdiction.”
“The Senate’s duty last week was clear. It wasn’t to guarantee a specific punishment at any cost,” he concluded. “Our job was to defend the Constitution and respect its limits. That is what our acquittal delivered.”
MSNBC’s Brian Williams on Monday said McConnell’s column, which tried to justify the failure to convict Trump on procedural technicality, was “apparently written by gaslight.”
“On Saturday, you saw Mitch McConnell convict Trump in his speech moments after acquitting him. The guy who held off the trial until Trump left the presidency said they just couldn’t convict Trump because he had left the presidency,” Williams commented.
Watch Williams’ remarks here:
Other critics were equally angered by McConnell’s column:
This is the same dude who played Weekend at Scalia’s with a Supreme Court seat for more than a year and then rammed through a justice in about eight days when he had the chance. https://t.co/YVtqcfCn3T
— Spencer Fordin (@SpencerFordin) February 16, 2021
When you want it both ways 🙂
— Dr Dingus, Esq (@uncivilobedient) February 16, 2021
Nope, @LeaderMcConnell
An Op/Ed isn't going to cover for your hypocrisy & complete lack of ethics.
You made the strongest mark on your record, and you'll be forever remembered as protector of Donald Trump when it mattered.
Even when colleagues, staff & the VP were put in danger.— Susan Bordson (@susanbordson) February 16, 2021
McConnell is clearly wrong. Impeachment doesn’t apply to all private citizens—only to those who held, and abused, public office. Trump was impeached while in office. Convicting him after he left office would have posed no threat to regular folks. https://t.co/Fiyc417Q5c
— David Doniger (@DavidDoniger) February 16, 2021
hehe someone’s a fencesitter😂
— ❌y occupation’s just not around (@PatentlySue) February 16, 2021
“This selective disregard for rules and norms is a civic disease that is spreading through the political left,” says the man who held a Supreme Court hostage. https://t.co/iwmZFmtHH1
— Alfred Spellman (@AlfredSpellman) February 16, 2021
Shameless attempt by McConnell to bring corporate donors back. https://t.co/LfrC8isdD0
— Straight Talker (@SomeRandomGuy5) February 16, 2021
McConnell wanted to convict Trump but didn't have the votes so he tried to have it both ways. If he had showed real leadership and voted to convict Trump he may have swayed enough Republicans to get 9 more they needed. Now he's being attacked anyway by the sycophants.
— Ray Beck (@niteowl41) February 16, 2021
Mitch McConnel’s lack of integrity is his most salient characteristic
— j. mambo king boogie (@boptilyadrop1) February 16, 2021
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
