Senate's McConnell says he will 'probably' block bill to shield special counsel

[DesertRat]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday he would “probably” block a renewed effort to bring to a vote a bill to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The bill, known as the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, would make it harder for President Donald Trump to undermine the investigation, which he has called a witch hunt. The measure has already been approved at the committee level with bipartisan support.

“I probably would” object to bringing up the bill, McConnell told reporters at the U.S. Capitol, calling a bipartisan effort to force such a vote “a solution in search of a problem” as Trump renewed his Twitter attacks on Mueller and his long-running inquiry.

McConnell reiterated that Mueller should be allowed to finish his probe, which is also looking into possible collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign and obstruction of justice. But he said he did not think Trump would try to fire Mueller, adding that lawmakers “have a lot of things to do to try to finish up this year without taking votes on things that are completely irrelevant to outcomes.”

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-senate-idUSKCN1NW2IP

[sandensea]

1. One day Bitchy Mitchy will have to face a Special Counsel of his own

PING MAY, Turtle boy. Ping May.

[DesertRat]

2. McConnell will 'probably' not be a member of the Senate after the next election

[sandensea]

4. I agree.

When faced with the prospect of being demoted to Minority Leader, I doubt that puffy, fragile ego of his could take it.

Besides: he's got all that Chao drug money to fall back on.

[dflprincess]

3. Tick-tock Mitch

2020 isn't that far off.

[blueinredohio]

5. All those republicans that agreed to support this bill should

tell McConnell they're not voting for his judges until he puts the bill on the floor for a vote

[BigmanPigman]

6. Sure, I will believe it when I see it.

The GOP sticks together like the crime family they are.

[watoos]

12. I mean, seriously,

are there any decent Republicans who will step up? I mean it is obvious to all of us that Trump is destroying our democracy. We are going to need some if the time comes for conviction for impeachment.

[orangecrush]

22. Nope.

[Roy Rolling]

7. Probably

He is probably a co-conspirator if any election-related crimes were committed. But what are the chances of that? 98, or 99%?

[budkin]

8. I will cheer his death

More than I will cheer that of Trump.

[Apollyonus]

9. McTurtle stries again!

He is an unamerican asshole

[calimary]

10. Welcome to DU, Apollyonus!

I will celebrate when he's gone.

Retired, voted out, passed away. Whatever.

Doesn't matter. I'll take any/or and all of the above.

[diva77]

11. always aspiring to sink lower than thought possible

the Guinness book of World records needs some new categories for rethugs

[dansolo]

13. Sounds like a job for the "Problem Solvers"

I realize they are in the House and this is the Senate, but it seems pretty disengenuous for them to talk about wanting more bipartisanship when Mitch McConnel can single handedly block this type of legislation that has bipartisan support.

[watoos]

14. Hey cut the Republicans a break,

they just elected a woman Senator, yeah she's a racist bigot who yearns for the days of lynchings, and is dumber than a box of rocks, but the optics will look better.

[Maxheader]

15. Humour us mitchy...

We feel the investigation needs protection from handjobs like you and
your president...

[duforsure]

16. When someone is deeply involved with a huge amount of crimes

Blocks protecting the investigation that could include himself is another form of obstructing justice, which Mitch is conspiring with trump for protections for himself , Mitch and many others involved. This will come back to haunt McConnell soon enough. Mueller's got his number already, and Mitch is just setting himself up now.

[True Blue American]

17. Notice, Mitch

Has gone from definately to probably! He is getting serious pressure from both sides.

[Vinca]

18. Is there a challenger to Mitch in 2020? He's got to go.

[world wide wally]

19. What could it possibly hurt to protect Mueller?

It must be McConnell himself along with Trump.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

20. This gives Trump a third level of protection: McConnell, Whitaker, Kavanaugh.

Nunes was the fourth, but the Repugs screwed themselves over by being such assholes

[denvine]

21. And this is the party to which Chuck Schumer wants to offer an olive branch,

by offering $1.6 billion for the wall. Come on Chuck!