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McConnell demurs on how Senate would handle impeachment articles

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did not speculate about how the Senate would handle an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did not speculate about how the Senate would handle an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday would not speculate about how the Senate might handle articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

At his weekly media appearance after the Senate policy luncheons, the Kentucky Republican did say that in conversations with top Trump administration officials, including the secretary of Defense and the secretary of State, he never really got an explanation why the aid to Ukraine was being held back. although he was glad the aid was eventually routed there. 

“I was not given an explanation. Fortunately it finally happened, and I’m glad about that,” McConnell said. “The previous administration continued to kind of pull back from Ukraine, and I think this administration has done a better job actually of standing behind the Ukrainians. I’m not sure why the delay, but the good news is the aid was released.”

McConnell said the appropriate venue for the Senate to review the allegations was through the Senate Intelligence Committee. Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Macguire will be at the Senate Intelligence panel on Thursday.

“What we have here is an allegation related to Ukrainian aid, by a whistle blower. That’s about all we know now,” McConnell said.

“I’m not going to address all of these various hypotheticals that have been aired out about what may or may not happen in the House” McConnell said, calling that discussion premature.

McConnell made his comments as the president announced the White House on Wednesday would release a transcript of the July telephone conversation with now-Ukrainian President Zelensky. 

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