Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday praised Capitol Police  for their work as Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court was underway — but also took a few verbal shots at the “far left.”

“To the men and women of the United States Capitol Police and all the other law enforcement officers who kept members, staff and citizens safe, even in extremely difficult and often hostile circumstances, we really can’t thank them enough,” he said in his opening remarks on the Senate floor.

“Our representative government and the rule of law depend on their dedication, their bravery and their sacrifice, so thank you so much for keeping the Senate safe,” he said.

McConnell criticized what he described as  “mob tactics” used by the “far left” to express opposition to Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. He said that “while many came to Washington peacefully to share their stories,” that far left activists were the “loudest voices.

He said that protesters “disregarded the men and women of the Capitol Police,” when they stormed up the stairs of the Capitol building over the weekend.  On Saturday, the day the Senate took the final vote to confirm Kavanaugh, 164 people were arrested for demonstrating on Capitol Hill, including 150 on the rotunda steps who were charged with “crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.”

Protesters and demonstrations necessitated “extraordinary security measures” to protect the Senate, Supreme Court, the Kavanaugh family, he said. McConnell said that threats of violence and murder were made against senators and their staff.

McConnell referenced Sen. Ted Cruz and his wife leaving a restaurant after protesters chanting “We believe survivors,” approached him at a Washington restaurant in September. 

“Far left activists decided that the United States Senate and their members should be harassed and intimidated wherever they might be. In a restaurant, with family, getting out of their own car, or in their own homes. Anything went,” he said. McConnell said that the tactics failed to sway Senate Republicans. McConnell did not mention the ongoing Capitol Police investigation of Jackson A. Cosko, 27, of Washington, D.C., who is facing charges related to the doxxing of Republican Senators and the release of their personal information, including home addresses and cell phone numbers. 

Between Thursday and Saturday of last week, the Capitol Police arrested more than 544 protesters related to the Kavanaugh nomination.

ICYMI: Anti-Kavanaugh Protesters Stir Up Ruckus Outside McConnell’s Office