Skip to content

Yarmuth: It’s On McConnell to Save Democracy

Compared firing of Comey to his days as a Watergate staffer

Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., speaks with a reporter at the Senate subway on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., speaks with a reporter at the Senate subway on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth said it’s on fellow Kentuckian Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to prevent a constitutional crisis.

Yarmuth compared President Donald Trump’s firing of FBI Director James B. Comey to his time as a Washington staffer during the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

“Yes, the circumstances and the facts are a little bit different but the same forces were at play where you have a president using his power to try and block an investigation into him,” Yarmuth told Louisville TV station WHAS. “And so I think we’re actually pretty close to considering impeachment.”

Yarmuth, who recently announced he was running for re-election, said it was up to McConnell, who was once a close friend, to respond properly.

Mitch McConnell is going to experience his ‘profile in courage’ moment. If it’s not now, it’s coming very soon and I think it was kind of watching which way his members are going before he decides to act,” Yarmuth said. “But I think, ultimately, it’s going to be on his shoulders to save democracy, I think.”

Recent Stories

Iranian energy sanctions bill revived for potential House vote

Test lots of testing ‘going on,’ says Pelosi

The Bernie Sanders tour puts California GOP on notice

Wife of ex-Sen. Bob Menendez found guilty in corruption case

Supreme Court again faces question of Trump immigration move

Capitol Lens | Mr. Smith goes to the Easter Egg Roll