McConnell Turns On Trump Again: Says Trump Responsible For Capitol Violence

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday accused President Donald Trump and his supporters of spreading inaccuracies and lies about the election that led to the January 6 riots in Washington D.C.

McConnell went on to accuse Trump and his supporters of provoking the violence and acts of vandalism. Five people died during the chaos that broke out during the certification of the electoral votes. 

“The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the President and other powerful people. 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,” McConnell said.  

To Impeach Or Not To Impeach 

Trump was impeached for a second time on January 13 as the House of Representatives charged him with “incitement to insurrection.”

RELATED: Liz Cheney Voting To Impeach Trump Backfires On Her As She’s Censured By Wyoming Republicans

The Impeachment process now moves to the Senate.

Questions have surrounded any future trial, including if a former president could be impeached.

One of the biggest questions has been whether or not McConnell would vote to impeach.

McConnell has not ruled out a vote to impeach. Mike Allen, founder of Axios, and former Politico Playbook Editor, says there is a “50-50 chance” McConnell will vote “yes” in order to “consider his own legacy and defend the Senate and the institution.” 

McConnell Not A Dependable Ally

Should Mitch McConnell go ahead with an impeachment trial, it would not be the first time that he has gone against Trump.

In the days following the protests and violence at the nation’s Capitol, when members of Congress clamored for removing the president by way of the 25th Amendment, a report from Fox News claimed that McConnell was “done” and “furious” with the president. 

The Fox News article also claimed that McConnell was “pleased” that Democrats in the House had introduced the articles of impeachment.

In another article, The Daily Mail had cited sources who said McConnell could consider a “yes” vote on impeachment, citing his desire to “purge him from the GOP.”  

McConnell Rebukes Republicans For Defending Trump

As the Senate began to take up certification of electoral college votes, McConnell warned those in his own party not to engage in objections to the electoral college.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) were vocal opponents of electoral college certification.

At the time, McConnell argued that a vote count challenge would be “terrible” for Republicans because they would “have to vote it down,” thus making them appear to be against the president. 

RELATED: Mitch McConnell Blasts Republican Senators Who Challenge Electoral College Results

At the beginning of January, the Senate also voted to override Trump’s veto on the defense bill, known as The National Defense Authorization Act.

The bill would have included pay raises for American soldiers and equipment upgrades, but did not include a repeal of section 230, a law that protects internet companies for bring liable for what is posted by them or third parties.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said that he would delay a quick vote for the final override unless McConnell brought a vote for $2000 stimulus checks to the floor, the vote was never brought, and the Senate voted to end debate on the veto override that afternoon.

A source close to McConnell reportedly said that, “The Senate institutional loyalists are fomenting a counterrevolution” to Trump.

McConnell seems to be prepared to do what he indicated, and that is to “move forward.”