Mitch McConnell Shares Harsh Words For The RNC

The Republican National Committee (RNC) made headlines on February 4, 2022, when it officially censured Republican Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois for joining with House Democrats to investigate how the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, happened and what led up to the day's violence. In the resolution the RNC passed, it explained the condemnation of Cheney and Kinzinger was due their decision to participate in the House Select Committee on January 6's "persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse," according to The New York Times.

While the RNC later tried walking back the "legitimate political discourse" language by saying that the statement wasn't about the rioters, chairwoman Ronna McDaniel issued a statement saying, "Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger crossed a line. They chose to join Nancy Pelosi in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse that had nothing to do with violence at the Capitol."

It turns out that not every Republican official agrees with what the RNC did and also takes umbrage with the words "legitimate political discourse," including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has always been clear about the fact that violent protestors invaded the Capitol on January 6, 2021, describing them as a mob just prior to former president Donald Trump's second impeachment trial, saying, "The mob was fed lies," via CNN. "They were provoked by the President and other powerful people," McConnell said. 

McConnell made sure to reiterate what really happened on January 6 after the Republican National Committee (RNC) censured Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, and described the day as "legitimate political discourse."

"We all were here. We saw what happened," McConnell said, via CNN. "It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election from one administration to the next. That's what it was."

McConnell also condemned the RNC for censuring Cheney and Kinzinger, saying, "Singling out members of our party who may have different views from the majority ... Traditionally, the view of the national party committees is we support all members of our party, regardless of their positions on some issues."