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Kentucky: Capitol Police Assisting FBI With McConnell Recording Probe

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)
(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

Capitol Police will assist the FBI in investigating a secretly recorded campaign strategy session between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his aides.

“The FBI is the lead investigative agency. We are providing them with assistance in the case,” Capitol Police spokesman Shennell Antrobus told CQ Roll Call on Monday afternoon. Antrobus declined to comment further on Capitol Police’s role in the investigation.

(Read more about the Kentucky Republican’s re-election in Roll Call: For McConnell, 2014 Is Well Under Way)

In the Feb. 2 recording, McConnell and his campaign aides discuss using Ashley Judd’s past mental-health struggles against her if she decided to run against the Kentucky senator. Judd opted against a bid last month.

The liberal news magazine Mother Jones published the recording last week.

Infuriated by the recording, McConnell asked the FBI to investigate who was behind the recording and subsequent leak of the closed-door strategy session.

(See also in Roll Call: McConnell Campaign Notified FBI About Secret Recording)

Some local Democrats pointed to Progress Kentucky, a liberal group in the state, as allegedly behind the recording, according to Louisville radio station WFPL.

Niels Lesniewski contributed to this report.

Correction: 5:51 p.m.

An earlier version of this post misstated the title of Mitch McConnell. He is the Senate minority leader.

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