Mitch McConnell says Senate Republicans were 'literally under assault' by 'trained' Kavanaugh demonstrators
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is once again following President Trump's lead — this time by questioning the motives and sincerity of anti-Kavanaugh demonstrators.
McConnell said Monday that over the past few weeks, Republicans have been "literally under assault" by protesters who were against Brett Kavanaugh being confirmed to the Supreme Court. While noting that "some" of these protesters were probably "well-meaning citizens," McConnell said that many of them were "obviously trained to get in our faces" and "almost attack us in the halls of the Capitol."
As they prepared to confirm Kavanaugh, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by three women, many Senate Republicans were confronted by demonstrators, some of whom said they were victims of sexual assault themselves. Two women, for instance, confronted Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) in an elevator, only for Flake to unexpectedly call for an additional FBI background investigation into Kavanaugh hours later. As The Washington Post points out, there were no reported instances of demonstrators physically assaulting any senators, although one woman reportedly assaulted a man outside of the office of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While McConnell did not go quite as far as President Trump, who recently claimed that protesters were "paid professionals," McConnell maintained that there had been "full-scale effort" to "intimidate" Republicans. Watch his comments below. Brendan Morrow
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Why China's young people are rejecting marriage
In The Spotlight Changing attitudes and a slowing economy are contributing to a slump in weddings
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The huge cost of food waste
The Explainer 'Truly enraging' amount of food thrown away each year, says charity boss
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 7, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10
Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking protests
Speed Read Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu have clashed for years. The Israeli prime minister first tried to fire the defense minister in 2023, but backed off following a public outcry.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump wins, GOP flips Senate, House a tossup
Speed Read The Republican candidate flipped back the swing states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court to resolve Louisiana gerrymander
Speed Read The court will hear a case challenging the second majority-Black district in the state
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Russia accused of election agitation, firebomb plot
Speed Read European officials accused Russian operatives of plotting to smuggle incendiary devices aboard planes bound for the US
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Moldova's pro-West president wins 2nd term
Speed Read Maia Sandu beat Alexandr Stoianoglo, despite suspicions of Russia meddling in the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
2024 race ends with swing state barnstorming
Speed Read Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held rallies in battlegrounds over the weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
North Korea tests ICBM, readies troops in Ukraine
Speed Read Thousands of North Korean troops are likely to join Russian action against Ukraine
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published