In an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday, McConnell was asked point blank if he stands by his statement that former presidents are not immune from civil or criminal litigation, an issue currently before the nation's highest court.
His answer: "I stand by everything I said then. Obviously it will be up to the Supreme Court to decide whether I was correct."
But Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan questioned how and why McConnell – given his statements about Trump and beliefs about national priorities – continues to support the embattled former president.
"You've endorsed him for re-election and you have clear moral clarity, as you describe it, and you say you still have these beliefs," Brennan pressed.
"You need to get better research. I was asked that question three years ago. If he were the nominee, would I support him... and I said yes, because the voters of my party across the country have made a decision," McConnell replied. "As the Republican leader of the Senate, obviously I'm going to support the nominee of my party."
McConnell repeatedly steered the conversation back to what he said are his priorities – among them, continuing to lobby for aid in defense of foreign allies amid what he sees as a broader campaign against democracy.
As for threats to democracy from within, the minority leader avoided linking issues like isolationism in his own party to Trump – instead reiterating criticism of former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and stressing the recent vote to authorize more aid to Ukraine as evidence that views like Carlson’s are not shared by all Republicans.
