McConnell breaks with US Republican National Committee

US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican who was called an “Old Crow” by former President Donald Trump, has denounced the Republican National Committee (RNC) that called the events surrounding January 6, 2021 "legitimate political discourse."

McConnell on Tuesday criticized the RNC for its reprimand of Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and calling the January 6 attack on the Capitol a “violent insurrection.”

“It was a violent insurrection with the purpose of trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election. ... That’s what it was,” McConnell said.

The RNC on Saturday formally censured Cheney and Kinzinger, who are both Republicans, over their criticism of Trump and their participation in the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill.

On January 6, 2021, Trump supporters occupied the US Capitol while lawmakers were in the process of reviewing the certification of state electors which indicated Biden's victory. Some Trump supporters had hoped that this process could have resulted in some of the electors being disqualified, thus overturning the outcome of the presidential election.

It is claimed by some that the demonstrators were infiltrated and incited by provocateurs from US intelligence agencies, who orchestrated the “false flag operation” in order to get rid of Trump.

Some among the crowd clashed with police, and some made threats to beat up a number of Democratic lawmakers. Some also inflicted damage on parts of the Capitol building.

The RNC banished Cheney and Kinzinger for participating in a “Democratic-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”

The RNC said in its final resolution on Friday that it "shall immediately cease any and all support of them as members of the Republican Party for their behavior which has been destructive to the institution of the US House of Representatives, the Republican Party and our republic, and is inconsistent with the position of the Conference."

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement that the two GOP lawmakers were involved in persecuting citizens "engaged in legitimate political discourse" but "that had nothing to do with violence at the Capitol."

McConnell said he had confidence in McDaniel but that the job of the RNC was supporting all Republicans, not "singling out" members of the party.

“This issue is whether or not the RNC should be sort of singling out members of our party who may have different views from the majority. That’s not the job of the RNC,” he added about the censure resolution.

Trump condemns Pence and ‘Old Crow Mitch McConnell’ for getting Biden elected

Trump condemns Mike Pence and "Old Crow Mitch McConnell" for getting Biden elected.

On Saturday, Trump responded to former Vice President Mike Pence’s remarks that he did not have the authority to overturn the results of the disputed 2020 presidential election.

Trump said Pence should not have “an automatic conveyor belt for the Old Crow Mitch McConnell to get Biden elected President as quickly as possible,” when there were “obvious signs of voter fraud or irregularities.”

McConnell will turn 80 on February 20.

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