Mitch McConnell Prepares the Trapdoor

On January 6th, 2021, Senator Mitch McConnell described what occurred at the Capitol as a "failed insurrection." I've quoted this comment several times in describing why I think that the attack was an insurrection for purposes of Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. Since then, though, Senator McConnell had avoided describing January 6th as an insurrection. I thought that perhaps he realized the legal significance of that characterization and did not want to use that word again.

Today, though, Senator McConnell again described January 6th as a "violent insurrection." He is one of the smartest politicians in America. He knows exactly what describing January 6th as an insurrection means for the possible disqualification of officeholders and candidates, including Donald Trump. Thus, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that McConnell is tacitly inviting the courts to disqualify the ex-President from running again. And that makes sense from the Senator's perspective, in that the GOP's chances of winning the presidency in 2024 are greater if they run another candidate. 

We'll see if the Supreme Court takes the hint.