‘Written By Gaslight’: People Aren’t Buying McConnell’s Reasons For Acquitting Trump

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) tried to elucidate 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 shopping for McConnell’s reasoning and as an alternative accused the Kentucky Republican of making an attempt to have it each methods as a result of he delayed holding the trial till Trump left workplace after which argued that Trump couldn’t be convicted as a result of he was not in workplace anymore.

The Senate on Saturday failed to succeed in the supermajority of 67 senators wanted to convict Trump and ban him from holding workplace once more. McConnell rebuked Trump quickly after voting to acquit him, sparking backlash from Fox News’ Sean Hannity and different Trump apologists.

In his column, McConnell doubled down on his criticism of Trump, acknowledging the ex-president had pushed “unhinged falsehoods” concerning the 2020 election being stolen from him and mentioned there was “no question” Trump bore “moral responsibility” for the revolt.

But the Senate minority chief then argued impeachment is “a specific tool with a narrow purpose: restraining government officers” and urged “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 mentioned 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 right here:

Other critics had been equally angered by McConnell’s column:

This is identical dude who performed Weekend at Scalia’s with a Supreme Court seat for greater than a 12 months after which rammed by means of a justice in about eight days when he had the prospect. https://t.co/YVtqcfCn3T

— Spencer Fordin (@SpencerFordin) February 16, 2021

When you need it each methods 🙂

— Dr Dingus, Esq (@uncivilobedient) February 16, 2021

Nope, @LeaderMcConnell
An Op/Ed is not going to cowl in your hypocrisy & full lack of ethics.
You made the strongest mark in your file, and you will be ceaselessly remembered as protector of Donald Trump when it mattered.
Even when colleagues, workers & the VP had been put at risk.

— Susan Bordson (@susanbordson) February 16, 2021

McConnell is clearly fallacious. Impeachment doesn’t apply to all personal residents—solely to those that held, and abused, public workplace. Trump was impeached whereas in workplace. Convicting him after he left workplace would have posed no risk to common people. https://t.co/Fiyc417Q5c

— David Doniger (@DavidDoniger) February 16, 2021

hehe somebody’s a fencesitter😂

— ❌y occupation’s simply not round (@PatentlySue) February 16, 2021

“This selective disregard for rules and norms is a civic disease that is spreading through the political left,” says the person who held a Supreme Court hostage. https://t.co/iwmZFmtHH1

— Alfred Spellman (@AlfredSpellman) February 16, 2021

Shameless try by McConnell to convey company donors again. https://t.co/LfrC8isdD0

— Straight Talker (@SomeRandomGuy5) February 16, 2021

McConnell wished to convict Trump however did not have the votes so he tried to have it each methods. If he had confirmed actual management and voted to convict Trump he might have swayed sufficient Republicans to get 9 extra they wanted. Now he is being attacked anyway by the sycophants.

— Ray Beck (@niteowl41) February 16, 2021