Mitch McConnell blasted after reaffirming his stance that Presidents don't have absolute immunity

WASHINGTON, DC: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's recent comments on presidential immunity from criminal prosecution have reignited a contentious debate, coinciding with the Supreme Court's hearings on the matter.

Speaking to NBC News' 'Meet the Press' on Thursday, April 25, McConnell expressed his stance on the issue, reaffirming his belief that former presidents should not be shielded from legal accountability for actions taken while in office.

Reaffirmation of previous stance

In the interview with moderator Kristen Welker, McConnell echoed sentiments he voiced in 2021, following the Senate's acquittal of former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial related to the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

“President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office. ... He didn’t get away with anything, yet,” McConnell said in 2021. “We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being [held] accountable by either one," he added.

When pressed by Welker about his position on presidential immunity, especially in light of Trump's attorneys arguing before the Supreme Court, the Kentucky Republican diverted attention to the court's forthcoming decision.

“As we sit here, Donald Trump's attorneys are arguing before the Supreme Court that presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for actions that they take while they are in office. Do you agree with that argument?” Welker asked.

“We’re going to find out, aren’t we? I mean, the Supreme Court is going to deal with that direct issue that I was referring to on February 13th of 2021, and I think we’ll find out sometime soon,” he responded.

Despite Welker's repeated attempts to clarify his stance, McConnell maintained that while he personally disagreed with the notion of broad presidential immunity, the final decision rested with the judiciary.

“Obviously, I don’t think that,” McConnell said, before reiterating the Supreme Court's role in resolving the matter. “But it’s not up to me to make that decision. The president clearly needs some kind of immunity, or he’d be in court all the time. So we’ll see how the Supreme Court deals with it.”

Social media backlash

McConnell's remarks elicited a flurry of reactions on social media, with many criticizing his perceived inconsistency and past actions regarding Trump's accountability.

"Jeez, Mitch, your recent 'come to Jesus' moments in an attempt to rehabilitate your legacy as a Trump crime enabler are too little, too late," one user posted on X.

"And Moscow Mitch helped Trump set up the most corrupt Supreme Court in American history. Now he’s trying to redeem his legacy. Too late, way too little," another commented.

"If Mitch McConnell had done his job on the first impeachment, we wouldn't be in this mess now. The more you let Trump get away with, the worse he becomes. He can never be in the White House ever again," someone else fumed.

"WTF he's endorsing Trump, who is claiming presidential immunity for his crimes, while declaring there isn't presidential immunity for crimes?" another wondered.

Amidst the ongoing legal deliberations, Trump's criminal trial for his involvement in the Capitol insurrection remains in limbo, awaiting the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity.

Foreign policy and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

In addition to discussing presidential immunity, McConnell touched upon recent developments in US foreign policy, including a conversation he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding bipartisan support for aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

McConnell told Welker that Zelenskyy "was grateful because he knew that the big challenge was in my party. And I think he — it was nice of him to mention that we had a bigger vote than we did a couple of months ago."

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