McConnell rebukes Trump's judge attack

The Senate Republican leader also distanced himself from the president on Russia, voter fraud and the travel ban.

By Isaac Arnsdorf
02/05/17 09:57 AM EST

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday distanced himself from President Donald Trump's positions on Russia, voter fraud and the travel ban, while criticizing the president for attacking a federal judge.

"It is best not to single out judges," McConnell told Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union. "We all get disappointed from time to time. I think it is best to avoid criticizing them individually."

McConnell was asked about Trump's tweet on Saturday calling the George W. Bush-appointed judge who temporarily halted his travel ban a "so-called judge."

The Kentucky Republican said he wouldn't consider legislation to implement the travel ban, instead leaving it to courts to determine the legality of Trump's executive order.

"The courts will decide whether or not the executive order of the president that is issued is valid or not," he said. "I think proper vetting is important, but there is a fine line here between proper vetting and interfering with the kind of travel or suggesting a religious test."

McConnell declined to directly comment on Trump's statement in an interview with Bill O'Reilly comparing Vladimir Putin's killings with some past American actions. ("We've got a lot of killers," the president said. "What do you think? Our country's so innocent?") But McConnell made clear he does not share the president's view of Putin.

"He is a former KGB agent, a thug, not elected in a way that most people consider a credible election," McConnell said of the Russian leader. "No, I don't think there is any equivalency with the way the Russians conduct themselves and the way the United States does."

McConnell, while saying that voter fraud does exist, also impugned Trump's false assertion that 3 million people voted illegally in the 2016 election and opposed Trump's call for a federal investigation into voter fraud.

"There is no evidence it occurred in such a significant number that would have changed the presidential election," McConnell said. "And I don't think we ought to spend any federal money investigating that. I think the states can take a look at this issue."

On Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, McConnell also sidestepped Trump's suggestion that the Senate should eliminate the filibuster if needed to overcome Democratic opposition.

"If we have to get 60 votes, I'm confident that we will," McConnell said.

CNN rejected the White House's offer to interview adviser Kellyanne Conway.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/0...-attack-234660