Mitch McConnell is very worried about 'presidential harassment'


Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell thinks the "left-wing mob" might work in President Trump's favor.
Republican leaders have taken to using the phrase to describe vocal dissent from the opposing party, but McConnell told The Associated Press on Wednesday that if mob-like Democrats gain power in Washington, they could inadvertently help re-elect Trump.
Democrats are poised to win control of the House in the midterm elections. McConnell warned that using that control to engage in "presidential harassment" would backfire. By "harassment," McConnell means launching investigations into Trump's finances and business ventures. Democrats have already pledged to get their hands on Trump's tax returns if they win the House, something McConnell thinks would only help make Trump more sympathetic in the eyes of the public.
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.
"This business of presidential harassment may or may not quite be the winner they think it is," he said of Democrats' strategy. He pointed to similar circumstances during former President Bill Clinton's administration, when the GOP-led House impeached him, but the Senate acquitted him. "It worked exactly the opposite" as intended, said McConnell. "The public got mad at us and felt sympathy for President Clinton." The same tactics against Trump, he posited, will simply "help the president get re-elected in 2020." Read more at The Associated Press.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Why are American conservatives clashing with Pope Leo?
Talking Points Comments on immigration and abortion draw backlash
-
9 haunted hotels where things definitely go bump in the night
The Week Recommends Don’t fear these spirited spots. Embrace them.
-
Saudi comedy fest exposes free speech schism in stand-up
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The decision by some of stand-up’s biggest names to attend a festival in a nation infamous for its censorship has the comedy world picking sides and settling old scores
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot
-
Oregon sues to stop Trump military deployment
Speed Read The president wants to send the National Guard into Portland