Barrett was confirmed on October 26, 2020. In 2008, James Chao gave a $5 million-$25 million “gift” to Sen. McConnell, more than tripling his net worth. Then, he noted that McConnell cannot be trusted on China because of his family ties to the communist state. Richard Hunter Herring; Judd McConnell … Clearly that mandatory sentence cannot be applied to somebody who has left office. McConnell worked to withhold Republican support for major presidential initiatives during the Obama administration, having made frequent use of the filibuster, and blocked many of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees, including Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. [5][7], In 1944, at the age of two, McConnell's upper left leg was paralyzed by a polio attack. Since then, the pair are maintaining a commitment to their … His father-in-law has given the couple millions of dollars. A State Department official was concerned that Mrs. Chao was using the department to schedule […] There's not anything judicial about it. On October 7, 2016, following the Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy, McConnell stated: "As the father of three daughters, I strongly believe that Trump needs to apologize directly to women and girls everywhere, and take full responsibility for the utter lack of respect for women shown in his comments on that tape. “The finances of Sec. Claim: Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is married to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's granddaughter. "[97] Kavanaugh was confirmed on October 6. Armchair Goddess #1. The details about McConnell’s ancestors, discovered by NBC Newsthrough a search of ancestry and census records, came in the wake of recent hearings on … [2] In February, McConnell voted to acquit Trump on a technicality concerning Constitutional jurisdiction but stated he believed Trump engaged in "a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty" and that "There is no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the event of that day". Mitch McConnell votes to acquit but says Trump's actions were a 'disgraceful dereliction of duty' Ledyard King and Savannah Behrmann, USA … [113][114], The shutdown ended on January 25, when President Trump signed a three-week funding measure reopening the government until February 15 without any funds for a border wall. Elaine Chao’s family is from Taipei and was born to scholar Ruth Mulan Chu Chao and sailor James S.C. Chao. Various Internet posters satirically interspersed the B-roll with footage from sitcoms and movies, and popular music. Addison Mitchell McConnell Jr. (born February 20, 1942) is an American Republican politician, serving since 1985 as a United States senator for Kentucky, and since January 20, 2021 as Senate Minority Leader. [205][209], Host Jon Stewart repeatedly mocked McConnell on The Daily Show for his resemblance to a turtle or tortoise. With Julia Odene Shockley, born 29 July 1919 - Randolph Co., AL, deceased 28 October 1993 - Shelbyville, Shelby Co., KY aged 74 years old (Parents : Carl Shockley 1892-1975 & Eunice A. Jordan 1893-1958) with. Senator Mitch McConnell is front and center now in Washington’s collective fevered mind. When the Paycheck Protection Program was established, it provided millions of businesses with a cushion of forgivable loans — to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. He is of Scots-Irish and English descent. Here's what's the usual partisan politics—and what isn't", "Mitch McConnell filibusters himself after Dems call bluff", "McConnell went 'nuclear' to confirm Gorsuch. [80] On March 16, 2016, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland, a Judge of the D.C. Mitch and Elaine walked down the aisle on 6th February 1993 in a closed ceremony, inviting their beloved ones. Photo: Mitch McConnell with his second wife, Elaine Chao Source: Business Insider. Elaine Chao and her husband, Sen. Mitch McConnell, are closely tied to the Foremost Group. finished! [13], McConnell attended the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave the "I Have a Dream" speech. Mitch McConnell shot them down", "Mitch McConnell could end the shutdown. Slowing the Senate's ability to process even routine measures limited the sheer volume of liberal bills that could be adopted. The vote was 57-43 to convict with 7 Republican senators voting to guilty. A ardent Trump supporter from Oklahoma has been arrested and charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for making online threats against public officials on Facebook and right-wing social media site Parler, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's grandchildren. … President Donald Trump released a statement excoriating Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, calling him a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack” who is responsible for his party’s devastating loss of the Senate. "[51] According to University of Texas legal scholar Sanford Levinson, McConnell learned that obstruction and Republican unity were the optimal ways to ensure Republican gains in upcoming elections after he observed how Democratic cooperation with the Bush administration on No Child Left Behind and Medicare Part D helped Bush's 2004 re-election. "[100], In October 2018, McConnell said that if a Supreme Court vacancy were to occur during Trump's 2020 re-election year, he would not follow his 2016 decision to let the winner of the upcoming presidential election nominate a justice. [38][39][40][41], McConnell regularly obtained earmarks for businesses and institutions in Kentucky, until the practice was banned by Congress in 2010. Enter Slideshow. Relevance. Elly McConnell is the first-born child of an American politician, Mitch McConnell and Sherrill Redmon, a homemaker. [170] McConnell was the only Republican Senate challenger to win that year, despite Ronald Reagan's landslide victory in the presidential election. From 1968 to 1970, he worked as an aide to Senator, Marlow Cook in Washington D.C. Mitch McConnell: On the day of their wedding, it was Ronald Reagan's 82nd birthday and starting of Senate recess one week before. [217][218], "Senator McConnell" redirects here. In the United States Senate, any senator may speak for unlimited duration unless a 60-person majority votes to invoke cloture, or end debate, and proceed to a final vote. [49][60][53][63], Political scientists Hacker and Pierson describe the rationale behind McConnell's filibusters, "Filibusters left no fingerprints. On Behalf of My Grandchildren, Senator McConnell, I Share My Pain with You Surely, when your party talks about “sharing the pain” you don’t mean that as a one-way offer. tax bill. Improvement Possible Will. It's a question, idiot. [190][191] His second wife, whom he married in 1993, is Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush and Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) attempted to explain in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal on Monday why he voted to acquit ex-President Donald Trump in his Senate impeachment tria… Mitch McConnell's grandchildren: Mitch McConnell's grandson is Charlie Flores. McConnell and Chao aren’t a surprise. [108], During this shutdown, McConnell blocked the Senate from voting on appropriations legislation, and said it was not his place to mediate between the Senate and Trump. Mitch McConnell's great uncles and aunts: Mitch McConnell's great uncle was Addison McConnell. Before marrying Chao, Mitch McConnell was married to Sherrill Redmon. [203], McConnell is on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service. I recovered, but my family almost went broke.”. [33], McConnell has a reputation as a skilled political strategist and tactician. [78][133] He also declared that there was "no chance" that the Senate would convict Trump and remove him from office. McConnell's campaign ran television ads that warned voters to not "Get BeSheared" and included images of sheep being sheared. [189] Following their divorce, she became a feminist scholar at Smith College and director of the Sophia Smith Collection. When voters heard that legislation had been 'defeated,' journalists rarely highlighted that this defeat meant a minority had blocked a majority. In 2003, he underwent a triple heart bypass surgery to treat blocked arteries at National Naval Medical Center, Maryland. A 2012 survey and a … The number of judges McConnell contacted is unknown. "[74] Kagan was confirmed the following month. But at What Cost? [112] Privately, other Republican senators pressured McConnell to stop blocking appropriations legislation. [154][155][156], On September 10, a pared down coronavirus relief bill crafted by McConnell failed to advance the Senate past a Democratic filibuster. ... McConnell’s marriage into the Chao family dynasty has coincided with a trajectory of ever-increasing personal profit for McConnell and the Chaos, as well as Chinese state business interests. Married to Florence Agnes Farrington, born 18 September 1880 - Alabama, deceased 19 July 1963 - Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC aged 82 years old (Parents : Josiah D. Farrington 1846- & Mary Ann Moore 1846-) with. [43][44][45][17][46][47][48][35][49][50] As the leading Republican senator, McConnell confronted and pressured other Republican senators who were willing to negotiate with Democrats and the Obama administration. "[214][215][216], In 2015 and 2019, Time listed McConnell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 1984, McConnell ran for the U.S. Senate against two-term Democratic incumbent Walter Dee Huddleston. In 1956, McConnell moved to Louisville, Kentucky with his family. In July 2016, after Trump had criticized the parents of Capt. The CARES Act was the largest economic stimulus package in U.S. history,[150] amounting to 10% of total U.S. gross domestic product. [192], In 1997, he founded the James Madison Center for Free Speech, a Washington, D.C.–based legal defense organization. He pursued a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Kentucky. [179] He faced Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes in the general election, and defeated Grimes, 56.2–40.7%. [16][20] According to one of his biographers, McConnell transformed "from a moderate Republican who supported abortion rights and public employee unions to the embodiment of partisan obstructionism and conservative orthodoxy on Capitol Hill. Mitch McConnell Has Family Ties to Bank of China, Top Chinese Shipping Firm. He has earned popularity as a skilled political strategist and tactician. But now it’s been revealed that a shipping business started by the family of Elaine Chao, Secretary of The Department of Transportation, and the wife of House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R … For other uses, see, U.S. [195], In 2010, the OpenSecrets website ranked McConnell one of the wealthiest members of the U.S. Senate, based on net household worth. The Russians are clearly a big adversary, and they demonstrated it by trying to mess around in our election. One of his ancestors fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War. That leaves a big opening for Trump", "Judicial Nomination Statistics and Analysis: U.S. District and Circuit Courts, 1977–2018", "McConnell indicates he'll let Trump's lawyers dictate Trump's impeachment trial", "Three More Judges Said to be Vetted for Supreme Court", "McConnell throws down the gauntlet: No Scalia replacement under Obama", "Obama Chooses Merrick Garland for Supreme Court", "170-Plus Days And Counting: GOP Unlikely To End Supreme Court Blockade Soon", "President Obama's Supreme Court Nomination of Merrick Garland Expires", "Mitch McConnell: Proud Moment When I Told Obama 'You Will Not Fill This Supreme Court Vacancy, "Tea Party-Aligned Kentucky Gov May End 95-Year Democratic Reign", "McConnell on midterm elections: 'The wind is going to be in our face, "Constitutional Hardball vs. Beanball: Identifying Fundamentally Antidemocratic Tactics", "Trump picks Colo. appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court", "Neil Gorsuch Confirmed by Senate as Supreme Court Justice", "Senate confirms a top Abbott adviser, Andrew Oldham, to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals", "Senate GOP poised to break record on Trump's court picks", "Mitch McConnell is quietly urging federal judges to retire ahead of 2020 election", "McConnell Has a Request for Veteran Federal Judges: Please Quit", "McConnell accuses Dems of trying to 'bork' Kavanaugh", "McConnell promises Senate vote on Kavanaugh", "Brett Kavanaugh confirmed to Supreme Court", "Kavanaugh Is Sworn In After Close Confirmation Vote in Senate", "McConnell: 'Simply inaccurate' that Senate is broken after Kavanaugh fight", "McConnell signals he would push to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2020 despite 2016 example", "McConnell vows Trump's nominee to replace Ginsburg will get Senate vote, setting up historic fight", "McConnell said wall funding would 'probably' have to wait until after midterms. [106], From December 22, 2018, until January 25, 2019, the federal government was shut down when Congress refused to give in to Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a U.S.–Mexico border wall. [174], In 2002, he was unopposed in the Republican primary. "Resuming electoral counting, McConnell condemns the mob assault on the Capitol as a 'failed insurrection. In 1956, McConnell moved to Louisville, Kentucky with his family. [34][35][36][37] However, this reputation dimmed after Republicans failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in 2017 during consolidated Republican control of government. [86] McConnell's refusal to hold Senate hearings on Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland during Obama's final year in office was described by political scientists and legal scholars as "unprecedented",[87][88] a "culmination of [his] confrontational style,"[89] a "blatant abuse of constitutional norms,"[55] and a "classic example of constitutional hardball. Therefore, when it is said by Peter Schweizer, president of the Government Accountability Institute, that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) worth is tied almost exclusively to that Asian nation, it is cause for concern, as Breitbart News reports.. Schwizer shows how McConnell’s “financial ties to the Chinese government as an example of … She is currently focusing on her day-to-day work so that she can achieve her life goals proficiently. [91], On July 18, 2018, with Andy Oldham's Senate confirmation, Senate Republicans broke a record for largest number of appeals court judiciary confirmations during a president's first two years; Oldham became the 23rd appeals court judge confirmed in Trump's term. [31] In June 2018, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate Republican leader in the history of the United States. [65][66][67] In August 2019, McConnell wrote an editorial for The New York Times, strongly opposing the elimination of the filibuster on legislation. One of the most […] [76][77] Later in a 2019 interview, McConnell credited himself for the large number of judicial vacancies created in the last two years of Obama's presidency. Yet the Washington Post says McConnell will never vote to impeach. Senator Mitch McConnell is on President Trump’s radar and not in a good way. After a report came out of Democrats investigating a second allegation against Kavanaugh, McConnell stated, "I want to make it perfectly clear. [157] Democrats panned the bill as "completely inadequate" given the scope of the crisis brought on by the coronavirus[158] – and as a partisan maneuver to help Republican senators up for reelection. By that time, nearly half of all votes to invoke cloture in the history of the Senate had occurred during Obama's presidency. Font Size: Take a moment to appreciate all the mini-McConnell’s running walking around out there. [187], McConnell is a Southern Baptist, baptized at age 8. But Democrats changed Senate filibuster rules first", "Republicans go 'nuclear,' bust through Democratic filibuster on Gorsuch", "Senate approves 'nuclear option,' clears path for Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination vote", "Mitch McConnell: The Filibuster Plays a Crucial Role in Our Constitutional Order", "How the Trump Administration Is Remaking the Courts", "Parties Plot Strategy as Sotomayor Visits Capitol", "McConnell, Bunning agree: They'll vote no on Sotomayor", "Top Republican challenges Kagan's independence", "Senate votes to confirm Kagan to Supreme Court", "This Congress filled the fewest judgeships since 1952. He once said, “When I was a child and my dad was in World War II, I got polio. The number of federal judicial vacancies more than doubled comparing the figure near the end of Obama's term to the figure at the end of George W. Bush's term. [124][126][127] At the same time that McConnell refused to recognize Biden, he did celebrate Republicans who won their races in the Senate and the House in the same elections.[124][126][128]. Let’s hope the Senator’s grandchildren make it to the sea in time! In comparison, the final two years of the presidencies of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan had between 55 and 70 district court judges each confirmed and between 10 and 15 appeals court judges confirmed. He also attempted to run for a seat in the state legislature but got disqualified because he did not meet the residency requirements for the office. [13][18], In March 1967, shortly before the expiration of his educational draft deferment upon graduation from law school, McConnell enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve as a private at Louisville, Kentucky. And our grandchildren will have to pay for it. McConnell has advocated mask wearing and social distancing, although neither are required in the Senate. [151] It passed both houses of Congress with bipartisan support. [34], In 1990, McConnell faced former Louisville Mayor Harvey I. Sloane, winning by 4.4%. [5] McConnell was born in Sheffield, Alabama, and grew up in nearby Athens, Alabama. Impeachment is scheduled to start February … Mitch McConnell. [18], In 2014, McConnell faced Louisville businessman Matt Bevin in the Republican primary. [78], On February 13, 2016, Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia died. In 1997, he founded the James Madison Center for Free Speech, a Washington D.C. based legal defense organization. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Elaine Chao. [122], After Joe Biden won the election of 2020 against Donald Trump, McConnell at first refused to recognize Biden as the winner of the election. He defeated Bruce Lunsford by 6%. Mitch McConnell (Addison Mitchell McConnell Jr.), 78, is a senior Republican U.S. She has 5 younger siblings, her family began their elite ties to America when her father started his own shipping company in New York in 1964. His comments were met with sharp criticism from various state and local officials. [173][174] He was the first Republican to win a statewide election in Kentucky since 1968, and benefited from the popularity of President Ronald Reagan, up for re-election, who was supported by 60% of Kentucky voters in the same year. [30] After Republicans took control of the Senate following the 2014 Senate elections, McConnell became the Senate majority leader. Elaine is the wife of Senator Mitch McConnell. Circuit Court of Appeals, to the Supreme Court. McConnell later vowed that Republicans would not force the US to default on its debt or shut down the government in 2014, when stop-gap funding measures were set to expire. Author Porter McConnell Quick Facts About Porter. In January 2021, McConnell claimed to believe the second impeachment of former President Trump was justified due to his role in inciting the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol. [193][194], In February 2003, McConnell underwent a triple heart bypass surgery in relation to blocked arteries at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. "[145], McConnell also stated Trump remains subject to the country’s criminal and civil laws saying, "He didn’t get away with anything yet". Mitch McConnell: The entire Senate is united in thinking of and praying for Justice Ginsburg’s family, most especially her daughter, Jane, her son, James, her grandchildren, step grandchildren, great granddaughter, and everyone who called her their own. [199][200][201][202] McConnell voted to confirm. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in … McConnell’s … Photo by Nita Johnson. The record for the number of circuit court judges confirmed during a president's first year was broken in 2017, while the previous two-year record took place under President George H. W. Bush, and included 22 nominations. [18][23], In 1977, McConnell was elected the Jefferson County judge/executive, which was the top political office in Jefferson County, Kentucky, at the time. [101] In September 2020, following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, he announced the Senate would vote on Trump's nominated replacement. [98][99] McConnell afterward admitted the confirmation process was a low point for the Senate, but also downplayed reports of dysfunction in the Senate; he said that claims that the Senate was "somehow broken over this [were] simply inaccurate. Every four years would be a scramble for power at any cost. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's days in leadership will be numbered if he allows Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. a free hand to … Addison Mitchell Mitch McConnell, Sen. 1942 WithSherrill Redmon with Answer Save. On Wednesday, a day before the Fed’s announcement, McConnell told reporters in Kentucky that he wants to pass another “rescue package” by the end of the year. His father-in-law has given the couple millions of dollars. Sotomayor was confirmed days later. Mitch McConnell's in laws: Mitch McConnell's father in law is James Chao Mitch McConnell… Could this possibly be the same Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who, along with other fiscally insane and … President Trump tweeted two days later that he was willing to allow a government shutdown to get funding. [149] The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 90–8. [9] McConnell stated that his family "almost went broke" because of costs related to his illness. 12/27/2020 By Stillness in the Storm Leave a Comment (Gabriel Keane) As news breaks Tuesday of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s praise for the United States’ election “process” and declaration of “congratulations” for “President-elect Joe Biden,” the Kentucky senator’s … [116] At the same time as he signed the bill, Trump declared a national emergency with regards to the border situation, allowing his administration to divert billions of dollars allotted by Congress for other purposes towards wall construction. "[168] In June 2019, Nancy Pelosi criticized McConnell for withholding votes on measures already passed by the Democratically controlled House, including the For the People Act of 2019, the Equality Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, and others.[169]. August 10, 2014 10:04 PM ET. [13][19] Shortly after his arrival, he was diagnosed with optic neuritis and was deemed medically unfit for military service. House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has an interesting wife. Senator from Kentucky in history, DuPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky, • The University of Louisville, Kentucky (B.A. [103], The United States federal government shut down between October 1 and 17, 2013, following a failure to enact legislation to fund the government. [49][53][54][55][56][57][58], In October 2010, McConnell said that "the single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." The practice―either of posting B-roll footage online for usage by PACs, or of lampooning the B-roll―was termed "McConnelling. [147][148] He subsequently reversed his position when Trump endorsed the proposed package. Trump threatened a shutdown two days later", "Senate approves sweeping bill on defense, domestic spending", "McConnell knocks Dems for rejecting Trump's 'reasonable request' on border", "McConnell suggests shutdown could last for weeks", "McConnell keeps his head down as government shutdown drags on", "Senate Democrats pushed a vote to reopen the government. "[52] A number of political scientists, historians, and legal scholars have characterized McConnell's obstructionism and constitutional hardball as contributors to democratic erosion in the United States. Mitch McConnell, the U.S. Senate Republican leader, said on Monday he would agree to a power-sharing agreement with Democrats, dropping demands that … "[135][136], After Trump's acquittal, McConnell was noted for his ability to block witnesses, to secure Trump's acquittal, and to maintain party unity during the impeachment process. Another damn crooked family in bed with China. He was elected Majority Whip in the 108th Congress and re-elected to the post in 2004. He also went after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, saying, "Hey justice Roberts, we are coming for you and your illegal adopted kids!! I don't even think he represents Kentucky. Later that day, McConnell told the media: "I'm not an impartial juror [in this impeachment trial]. "[59] According to political scientists Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson, "Facing off against Obama, [McConnell] worked to deny even minimal Republican support for major presidential initiatives—initiatives that were, as a rule, in keeping with the moderate model of decades past, and often with moderate Republican stances of a few years past. He was the President of the student council of the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. [94][95], In July 2018, President Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace the retiring Anthony Kennedy as an associate justice of the Supreme Court. A State Department official was concerned that Mrs. Chao was using the department to schedule […] "[141], On February 13, McConnell voted to acquit Trump, claiming what he called concerns about constitutional jurisdiction. Crook Elaine Chao (McConnell’s wife) under investigation (for shipping business with CHINA) The House Oversight Committee said Monday it is investigating whether Transportation Secretary … I’ve been telling you for a LONG time not to trust Mitch MCConnell. [16][20] Over time, he shifted to the right and became more conservative. Monday, December 6, 2010. House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has an interesting wife. Country … Update: Anonymous, you dumb fu ck! [121], In October 2017, White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon and other Trump allies blamed McConnell for stalling the Trump administration's legislation. McConnell stated that if he was still Senate majority leader after the 2020 elections, "none of those things are going to pass the Senate. Humayun Khan, a Muslim-American soldier who was killed in Iraq, McConnell stated, "All Americans should value the patriotic service of the patriots who volunteer to selflessly defend us in the armed services." [citation needed] Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, did not seek re-election in the 2006 elections. After the 2020 United States Senate elections, McConnell returned to the position of minority leader, as the 50–50 tie in the Senate can be broken by Vice President Kamala Harris. Collection of letters to and from Mitch McConnell - occasional articles that others have written. Now, to learn more about him, many are looking up Mitch McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation. December 15, 2020. [10], In 1950, when he was eight, McConnell moved with his family from Athens to Augusta, Georgia, where his father, who was in the Army, was stationed at Fort Gordon. [42] McConnell has received criticism for funding "temporary patches" to Kentucky's long-term healthcare problems, while simultaneously opposing and obstructing national programs that seek to improve healthcare more systematically, such as Obamacare and Medicaid expansion. MITCH McConnell's NSFW nickname - "Cocaine Mitch" - has resurfaced after President Donald Trump's supporters lashed out at the top Republican on Twitter for congratulating Joe Biden on his election win. His foreign policy views have included support of sanctions on Cuba, Iran and Russia;[164] opposition to the Iran nuclear deal; and support of Israel. [197], McConnell was inducted as a member of the Sons of the American Revolution on March 1, 2013. ... CHINA MITCH: McConnell Has Family Ties to Bank of China, Top Chinese Shipping Firm McConnell’s familial link to Chao family’s Foremost shipping company, Chinese State Shipbuilding corporation, and Bank of China resurface after Kentucky senator’s declaration of victory for Joe Biden. [182][183] During the campaign, McConnell and McGrath agreed to one hour-long, socially distanced debate on October 12. [32] McConnell is the second Kentuckian to serve as a party leader in the Senate (after Alben W. Barkley led the Democrats from 1937 to 1949)[12] and is the longest-serving U.S. senator from Kentucky in history. A filibuster is an attempt to "talk a bill to death", forcing Senate leadership to abandon a proposed measure instead of waiting out the filibuster―or at least to delay the measure's passage. But he's sitting this one out", "McConnell blocks bill to reopen most of government", "McConnell Faces Pressure From Republicans to Stop Avoiding Shutdown Fight", "Trump signs bill to end shutdown and temporarily reopen government", "Senate approves border bill that prevents shutdown", "Trump to declare national emergency to free billions for border wall, official says", "McConnell 'committed to supporting' Trump", "Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell Reject Donald Trump's Words, Over and Over, but Not His Candidacy", "How Mitch McConnell Became Trump's Enabler-In-Chief", "Mitch McConnell fires back at criticism against GOP", "In Senate speech, Mitch McConnell again won't acknowledge Joe Biden's victory over Trump", "President-Elect Joe Biden's Transition: Live Updates as McConnell Backs Trump's Refusal to Concede", "McConnell declines in floor speech to congratulate Biden as president-elect", "McConnell-led Republicans hold steady against Trump concession", "GOP splits over Trump's false election claims, unfounded fraud allegations", "McConnell defends Trump's refusal to concede to Biden", "McConnell for the first time recognizes Biden as President-elect", "Analysis | Mitch McConnell's forceful rejection of Trump's election 'conspiracy theories.