McConnell says he hasn't discussed Ukraine call with Trump

By Jordain Carney - 10/22/19 02:49 PM EDT
 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSanders is a risk, not a winner Buttigieg sounds alarm after Sanders wins Nevada Where do we go from here? Conservation can show the way MORE (R-Ky.) said he hasn't discussed the Ukraine phone call at the center of the House impeachment inquiry with President TrumpDonald John TrumpSchiff blasts Trump for making 'false claims' about Russia intel: 'You've betrayed America. Again.' Poll: Sanders leads 2020 Democratic field with 28 percent, followed by Warren and Biden More than 6 in 10 expect Trump to be reelected: poll MORE.

"We have not had any conversations on this subject," McConnell said Tuesday during a weekly press conference.

McConnell's comments appear to contradict Trump, who earlier this month said that the GOP leader had told him the phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was "innocent" and "perfect."

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When asked if the president was lying, McConnell demurred and directed reporters to speak with the president. 
 
"You'd have to ask him. I don't recall any conversations with the president about that phone call," McConnell said. 
 
 
Trump told reporters earlier this month that he had spoken with McConnell about the Ukraine phone call. 
 
"He put out a statement that said that was the most innocent phone call he's read. And I spoke to him about it, too," Trump said at the time.
 
"He read my phone call with the President of Ukraine. Mitch McConnell, he said, 'That was the most innocent phone call that I've read.' I mean, give me a break," Trump continued. "Anybody that reads it says the same thing. And the only people that don’t understand it is when they look at the false, fabricated, fraudulent statement made by Shifty Schiff."
Tags Mitch McConnell Rudy Giuliani Donald Trump Joe Biden Volodymyr Zelensky Special Counsel investigation