Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

We Now Know How Mitch McConnell Reacted When the CIA Informed Him That Russia Was Trying to Help Elect Donald Trump in 2016

We Now Know How Mitch McConnell Reacted When the CIA Informed Him That Russia Was Trying to Help Elect Donald Trump in 2016
CNN

Wait, what?

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) threatened to condemn President Barack Obama's administration if it had gone public after learning about Russian efforts to disrupt the 2016 election in favor of Donald Trump, according Greg Miller of The Washington Post.

Miller told CNN on Tuesday the CIA warned McConnell that "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is overseeing" an "operation to help elect Trump."


Miller went on to explain that CIA Director John Brennan held a series of "private briefings" with Congressional leaders, during which McConnell threatened to accuse the Obama administration of meddling in the election in favor of Hillary Clinton if the intelligence was made public.

"If you try to come forward with this, I'm not going to sign on to any public statement that would condemn Russian interference," Miller said of McConnell, "but I will condemn you and the Obama administration for trying to mess up this election."

Miller added that "this is one just one of many many behind-the-scenes moments we capture" in his new book, The Apprentice: Trump, Russia, and the Subversion of American Democracy.

Twitter erupted with anger at McConnell and fully remembers the obstruction the Kentucky Republican pulled at the expense of American election security.

This included preventing Obama from nominating Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court months before the election.

Many people consider McConnell's actions to be treasonous.

Miller's account corroborates claims made by former Vice President Joe Biden in January, who said McConnell's refusing to issue a bipartisan condemnation of Russia's actions made him feel like “the die had been cast ... this was all about the political play.”

Biden explained that without bipartisan condemnation of Russia, Obama feared the country would see him as de-legitimizing the election.

“Can you imagine if the president called a press conference in October, with this fella, Bannon, and company, and said, ‘Tell you what: Russians are trying to interfere in our elections and we have to do something about it,’” Biden said. “What do you think would have happened? Would things have gotten better, or would it further look like we were trying to delegitimize the electoral process, because of our opponent?”

McConnell “expressed skepticism,” Frontline reported last November, “and warned that he would not join an effort to publicly challenge Putin.”

A December 2016 memo sent from the CIA to Congressional leaders obtained by Buzzfeed in August 2017 showed that Brennan felt "some members of Congress" failed to “understand and appreciate the importance and gravity of the issue.”

Though the memo did not mention any lawmakers by name, Jason Leopold reported that "three intelligence sources told BuzzFeed News that Brennan’s criticism was directed at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn, the majority whip. At the time, the two Republican lawmakers downplayed the importance of the CIA’s intelligence."

And in September 2016, The Washington Post reported: "during a secret briefing for congressional leaders, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell … voiced doubts about the veracity of the intelligence.” That intelligence was confirmed in October 2016 when the Obama administration issued a startling briefing featured in the New York Times.

“We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia’s senior-most officials could have authorized these activities,” the statement from intelligence officials said.

That piece, however, was overshadowed when the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women was released by The Washington Post.

More from News

Kristi Noem; Bryon Noem
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Bryon Noem/Facebook

Kristi Noem Asks For 'Privacy And Prayers' After Allegations That Her Husband Lives A Double Life As A Crossdresser Go Public

On Tuesday morning, the Daily Mail—a British tabloid paper based in London—published a story with the headline: "Secret double life of Kristi Noem's crossdressing husband Bryon: The pouting 'busty bimbo' photos and trove of explicit messages."

According to the Daily Mail, Bryon Noem—who was left behind in South Dakota while Kristi Noem allegedly lived in Coast Guard housing in Washington D.C. with her longtime affair partner Corey Lewandowski, who is also married—had been engaging in online exchanges with women who were part of the bimbofication sexual subculture.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Marco Rubio
ABC

Marco Rubio's Tone Deaf Attack On How Iran Is 'Spending Its Wealth' Is A Total Self-Own

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was called out for hypocrisy after he criticized Iran during an appearance on Good Morning America, admonishing the country for spending "billions of dollars" on weapons instead of its people.

Rubio appeared on the program to defend the increasingly unpopular war, which kicked off after the U.S., in a joint operation with Israel, authorized strikes on February 28.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tim Walz
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Official GOP X Account Slammed After Tweeting Homophobic Jab Aimed At Tim Walz

After Minnesota Governor Tim Walz shared a post backing the "No Kings" protests over the weekend, Republicans lashed out with a tweet that had more than homophobic undertones.

Last October, massive crowds flooded streets across the country on for “No Kings” protests denouncing Trump’s policies, with major demonstrations in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. Organizers said the demonstrations—which drew nearly seven million participants nationwide—remained overwhelmingly peaceful.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Gavin Newsom
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Trump Just Unveiled The Design For His Presidential Library—And Gavin Newsom Totally Clocked One Of Its Bizarre Features

California Gov. Gavin Newsom perfectly slammed President Donald Trump by comparing a proposed gold statue of the president—planned for display in Trump’s future presidential library—to the grandiose monuments erected for authoritarian leaders throughout history.

Eric Trump, the president’s son, released a video Monday showcasing renderings of the proposed Donald J. Trump Presidential Library in Miami, Florida.

Keep ReadingShow less
screenshot of mukbang with Zohran Mamdani and Sam Levine
C-SPAN

MAGA Gets Brutal Wakeup Call After Melting Down Over A Video Of Zohran Mamdani Talking With His Mouth Full

New York City Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani filmed a "mukbang"-style video alongside NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Sam Levine while eating Taco Bell and Dunkin' Donuts.

A mukbang is an often live-streamed video featuring a person eating while interacting with their audience. Mayor Mamdani's video was designed to reach a younger audience, so they used the mukbang format first made popular by South Korean content creators.

Keep ReadingShow less