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McConnell: Democrats trying to 'politicize' Trump whistleblower complaint

By Jordain Carney - 09/23/19 04:23 PM EDT
 
 
"I believe it's extremely important that their work be handled in a secure setting with adequate protections in a bipartisan fashion — and based on facts rather than leaks to the press. It's regrettable that House Intelligence [Committee] Chairman [Adam] Schiff [D-Calif.] and Sen. [Charles] Schumer [D-N.Y.] have chosen to politicize this issue," McConnell said from the Senate floor on Monday. 
 
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His comments came after Schumer, the Senate minority leader, sent McConnell a letter earlier Monday demanding that Republicans hold a hearing on the whistleblower complaint and issue a subpoena to force the administration to turn the complaint over to Congress. 
 
The back-and-forth comes amid reports that both Trump and his attorney Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Lawmakers face Capitol threat as senators line up votes for relief bill Giuliani again suspended from YouTube over false election claims Sacha Baron Cohen calls out 'danger of lies, hate and conspiracies' in Golden Globes speech MORE have attempted to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot FireEye finds evidence Chinese hackers exploited Microsoft email app flaw since January Biden officials to travel to border amid influx of young migrants MORE or his son.
 
Trump appeared to acknowledge on Sunday that he had discussed Biden on the call with Zelensky. But he said on Monday that he did not threaten to withhold aid to Ukraine unless they investigated the Biden family.
 
"I did not make a statement that you have to do this or I’m not going to give you aid," Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Members of the House Intelligence Committee received a briefing last week from the intelligence community's inspector general but did not receive information about the contents of the whistleblower complaint. 
 
Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire has refused to provide the information to the committee or comply with Schiff's request that he hand over the complaint. 
 
Senate Republicans have largely been mum about the whistleblower complaint, though Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamRon Johnson grinds Senate to halt, irritating many Here's who Biden is now considering for budget chief House Democratic leaders back Shalanda Young for OMB after Tanden withdrawal MORE (R-S.C.) has called for Trump to be transparent. 
 
McConnell added on Monday that Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrRick Scott caught in middle of opposing GOP factions Bipartisan bill would ban lawmakers from buying, selling stocks Republicans, please save your party MORE (R-N.C.) has been trying to set up a briefing for the committee on the whistleblower complaint. 

"I've been disappointed to see our colleague, the Democratic leader, choose to politicize the committee's ongoing efforts with respect to a recent whistleblower allegations," he said. 
 
A GOP aide confirmed that they are trying to set up a briefing for the committee this week with the intelligence community's inspector general and Maguire.
Tags Mitch McConnell Charles Schumer Lindsey Graham Rudy Giuliani Richard Burr Donald Trump Adam Schiff Joe Biden