McConnell blames Trump for Capitol violence as Senate takes up Biden nominees

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is now blaming President Trump for having “provoked” the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol earlier this month in an attempt to overturn the results of the presidential election.

“The mob was fed lies,” McConnell said as he opened the Senate on Tuesday. “They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government, which they did not like.”

Pro-Trump rioters disrupted Congress’ certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral victory for several hours when they breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, ransacking and looting offices and sending lawmakers fleeing.

“We stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation,” McConnell said Tuesday. “We certified the people’s choice for the 46th president.”

Hearings began for Biden’s Cabinet nominees on Tuesday, with his top foreign-policy choices vowing to restore an emphasis on cooperating with international allies and push for a stronger American leadership role.

Anthony Blinken, Biden’s pick for secretary of state, said he supported reinvigorating the controversial Iran deal, which former President Barack Obama entered into and President Trump left.

Avril Haines, Biden’s nominee for director of national intelligence, promised to “speak truth to power” and keep politics out of intelligence agencies to ensure their work is trusted.

Biden’s pick for Defense secretary, Ret. Gen. Lloyd Austin, would have to receive a waiver from Congress in order to take the job, as he hasn’t been retired from the armed forces for as long as the law requires.

“The safety and security of our democracy demands competent civilian control of our armed forces, the subordination of military power to the civil,” he said of the waiver.

Also testifying Tuesday was Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden’s nominee for Homeland Security. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, said that he would block a procedural move to expedite Mayorkas’ nomination.

It’s still not clear when Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, Biden’s choice to lead the Labor department, will face a hearing.

McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer conferred later about how to balance the trial with other business and how to organize the evenly divided chamber, a process that could slow all of the Senate’s business and delay the Trump impeachment proceedings, which Schumer pledged to move forward.

McConnell told Schumer that retaining the legislative filibuster is important and should be part of their negotiations.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/39M4TXx