‘Not going to be an impeachment,’ McConnell says

September 1, 2021

Steve Rogers,

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (CNN/WTVQ) – Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday “there isn’t going to be an impeachment” of President Joe Biden over the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, noting Democrats control the House and Senate.

“I think the way these behaviors get adjusted in this country is at the ballot box,” said McConnell at an event in Pikeville, Ky. “The President is not going to be removed from office with a Democratic House and a narrowly Democratic Senate. That’s not going to happen.”

McConnell’s remarks came nearly a week after a suicide bombing attack outside Kabul’s airport killed 13 US service members and more than 170 civilians. The organization that claimed responsibility for the deadly explosion is known as Islamic State Khorasan or ISIS-K.

Some Republicans, including Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, have since said the President should resign or face impeachment.

Biden defended his decision to withdraw US troops in a speech at the White House on Tuesday, a day after the last American military planes left the country, marking the conclusion of the United States’ longest war.

Biden also paid tribute to the service members who were deployed, including the 13 who died in the terrorist strike.

“The bottom line is there is no evacuation from the end of a war that you can run without the kind of complexities, challenges, threats we face. None,” he said.

Second District Kentucky U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie is among those who cosponsored legislation this week to posthumously award 13 U.S. service members, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan last week, the Congressional Gold Medal.

The Congressional Gold Medal would be awarded to Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, and Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak.

“While the Congressional Gold Medal is one of Congress’ highest honors, this is a small token compared to the ultimate sacrifice 13 U.S. service members gave on August 26th. They bravely worked and put themselves at risk to safely evacuate American citizens and Afghan allies. I’ll never forget the 13 U.S. service members’ sacrifices, and this congressional honor would ensure their legacy is remembered in our country’s history for generations to come,” said Guthrie.