Mitch McConnell Threatens Senators With Jail If They Violate Impeachment Media Gag Rule
Mitch McConnell is finally laying his cards in the table and he has a strong hand. Today all Senators swore an oath to be fair and impartial jurors in Trump’s impeachment.
But after what happened to Brett Kavanaugh, Mitch is not about to let this turn into another circus.
So he is clamping down on the media sharply curtailing their access to the proceedings and he warned all Senators who think they can scurry out into the hall to do a quick hit on MSNBC toy raise their profile or help their campaigns that doing that could get then arrested by the Sergeant at Arms.
Literally, Mitch has ordered them as per the rules to do what no politician has ever done before – keep their mouths shut.
From Trending Politics:
Do not mess with Mitch McConnell, for he has been in the business for a long time and he will not sanction shenanigans or sideshows.
Politicians who think they can use the Senate Impeachment trial to make lucrative media interviews will find that they could actually be imprisoned if they play hooky with their “non-partisan” duty, according to the Wall Street Journal.
They stated that “during the trial, all senators will be warned by the Sergeant at Arms to remain silent on ‘pain of imprisonment’ and will be expected to be present and seated at their assigned desks.”
From Politico:
Some pushed back Wednesday, following news that access to senators will be significantly limited during the Senate impeachment proceedings.
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, known for his folksy style and colorful quotes, complained that the restrictions send the “wrong message.”
“It’s a huge mistake,” Kennedy said. “U.S. senators are grown women and grown men. If they don’t want to make a comment, they know how to say ‘no comment.’ … We aren’t children.”
“I don’t think you guys should ever be restricted,” said Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.). He added that while he has no issues talking to the press, the new rules are “kind of a way to give some certainty to the individuals that maybe don’t want to interact.”
The Senate sergeant-at-arms and U.S. Capitol Police are looking to drastically curtail press access to lawmakers for the duration of the trial, which could last more than two weeks. Among the potential restrictions, according to a letter sent to Senate leadership from the Standing Committee of Correspondents, are confining reporters to a press pen on the second floor of the Capitol and limiting their ability to walk with senators from the Senate subways.