[17][21] 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. [60][61] Political scientists noted that "by slowing action even on measures supported by many Republicans, McConnell capitalized on the scarcity of floor time, forcing Democratic leaders into difficult trade-offs concerning which measures were worth pursuing. Before the Committee on Judiciary, United States Senate", "Joint Hearing on the Able Danger Program", Alleged Misconduct by Senior DOD Officials Concerning the Able Danger Program and Lieutenant Colonel Anthony A. Shaffer, US Army Reserve, Review by the Los Angeles Times October 31, 2008, "Pentagon Plan: Buying Books to Keep Secrets", U.S. Army intelligence had detected 9/11 terrorists year before, says officer, Update: U.S. Army intelligence had detected 9/11 terrorists year before, says officer, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Able_Danger&oldid=1124156029. According to The New York Times, Obama's final two years as president saw 18 district court judges and one appeals court judge confirmed, the fewest since President Harry S. Truman. [31] According to the DIA, Shaffer came under investigation while deployed as a staff officer in Afghanistan due to a pattern of misconduct including obtaining a service medal under false pretenses, improperly flashing military identification while drunk, theft, and falsely claiming reimbursement for mileage and personal mobile phone charges. The alleged distortions of the IG report centered around excluding any evidence that Able Danger had identified and tracked Atta years before 9/11. The copies that would have been in the possession of the U.S. Army were apparently destroyed by March 2001. Instructor pilot, TA4J teaching advanced jet training syllabus. Commentators noted that McConnell had kept Republican senators "marching in lockstep" throughout the process. [20] This was a coveted position because the Reserve units were mostly kept out of combat during the Vietnam War. It is unclear if/when he will officially return to active duty. (21 December 2021). Now he says the delay makes it unconstitutional", "Trump acquitted, denounced in historic impeachment trial", "McConnell: 'Trump is still liable for everything he did' read full speech", "McConnell blames Trump but voted not guilty anyway", "McConnell on Impeachment: 'Disgraceful Dereliction"" Cannot Lead Senate to 'Defy Our Own Constitutional Guardrails', "Senate Republicans prepared to block Jan. 6 commission", "Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission", "Biden and McConnell's visit to Kentucky signals White House roadmap for next 2 years under split Congress", "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. Politics, Media & News, QANON. "[89][90], 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. [109] McConnell announced his opposition to Kagan's confirmation, saying she was not forthcoming enough about her "views on basic principles of American constitutional law". McConnell invoked the "nuclear option" to eliminate the 60-vote requirement to end a filibuster for Supreme Court nominations, after his predecessor Harry Reid had previously eliminated the filibuster for all other presidential nominations; Trump subsequently won confirmation battles on Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court. It tells us the President, Vice President, and civil officers may be impeached and convicted. When voters heard that legislation had been 'defeated', journalists rarely highlighted that this defeat meant a minority had blocked a majority. "[33] An investigation the Defense Department's inspector general concluded that "DIA officials did not reprise against LTC Shaffer, in either his civilian or military capacity, for making disclosures regarding Able Danger". "[21] McConnell has widely been described as an obstructionist. One of his ancestors fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War. Captain Field McConnell, a former Northwest Airline DC-10 captain and a long time friend of Captain Dan Hanley, retired 9 years early as such because of his exposure of illegal modifications on Boeing aircraft in 2006 so that he could serve as an expert witness in future litigation. [37] 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)[13] and is the longest-serving U.S. senator from Kentucky in history. Smith stated that Atta's name had emerged during an examination of individuals known to have ties to Omar Abdel Rahman, a leading figure in the first World Trade Center bombing. "I have briefed the Department of the Army, the Special Operations Command and the office of (Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence) Dr. Cambone as well as the 9/11 Commission. [143] In December 2018, the Republican-controlled Senate unanimously passed an appropriations bill without wall funding, and the bill appeared likely to be approved by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Trump. [49] Senator Specter decided to go forward with the hearings anyway. 11-4-21 Field McConnell "I want to start with the good news. We'd never see the whole nation accept an election again. USA UNDER W.H. Mitch McConnell shot them down", "Mitch McConnell could end the shutdown. "There were two sets, classified and unclassified, and also an 'all sorts,'" which contained a blend of the two, "plus charts we'd produced." Christine McConnell is an American baker, designer, model, host, influencer, photographer, reality star, and actress. Addison Mitchell McConnell III[1] (born February 20, 1942) is an American politician and retired attorney serving his seventh term as the senior United States senator from Kentucky, which he has held since 1985. Check below for more deets about Clare McConnell. The Senate Committee said its findings were consistent with those of the DoD inspector general, released in September 2006. [211][212][213][214] McConnell voted to confirm. [151] This was the longest government shutdown in American history.[18][152]. How McConnell survived a year of Trumps attacks". [4][5], McConnell was born on February 20, 1942, to Julia Odene "Dean" (ne Shockley; 19191993) and Addison Mitchell "A.M." McConnell II (19171990). [27], Shaffer specifically states that in January 2000, Able Danger data-mining revealed the existence of a 'Brooklyn' Al-Qaeda cell connected to the "Blind Sheik" Omar Abdel-Rahman, as well as two other cells overseas. Burns & McDonnell provides engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting solutions. [104], Throughout Obama's tenure McConnell led Senate Republicans in what has been called "a disciplined, sustained, at times underhanded campaign to deny the Democratic president the opportunity to appoint federal judges". The NIIS printout for the first entry reflects that Atta entered with an admission period of January 10, 2001, to September 8, 2001 (admission number 68653985708). Weldon also claimed that Able Danger information was found in Pentagon files as recently as two weeks prior to his statement and that a general was present when the files were taken from the cabinet. The May 2, 2001, transaction with Atta was data entered and then uploaded to NIIS as if it were a new entry by Atta. [81], On April 10, 2021, Trump called McConnell a "dumb son of a bitch". [22], He later stated that he was no longer sure that Atta's name appeared on that document. On December 15, one day after the electoral college vote, McConnell reversed his previous stance and publicly acknowledged Biden's win, stating "Today, I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden. Resigned from United States Marine Corps when recruited by North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo ND, to fly F4D with 178th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, NDANG. President, you will not fill the Supreme Court vacancy. [50] Levinson noted, "McConnell altogether rationally concluded that Republicans have nothing to gain, as a political party, from collaborating in anything that the president could then claim as an achievement. In fact, Able Danger produced no actionable intelligence information. Colonel Anthony Shaffer and the other four Able Danger employees at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September 2005, pointed out to the Committee that his clients had been forbidden by the Pentagon to testify to the committee. [59] "Specifically, the DIA wanted references to a meeting between Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, the book's author, and the executive director of the 9/11 Commission, Philip Zelikow, removed". [37], The Defense Department announced its findings on September 1, 2005, after a three-week investigation into Able Danger. Clare McConnell is a Canadian actress and comedian who is best known for Nurses (2020), Stealing School (2019), Murdoch Mysteries (2018-2021), and Hudson & Rex (2021). Mohamed Atta is in the U.S. on a green card, and we are fearful of the fallout from the Waco incident. in political science in 1964 with honors. In December 2006, a sixteen-month investigation by the US Senate Intelligence Committee concluded "Able Danger did not identify Mohamed Atta or any other 9/11 hijacker at any time prior to September 11, 2001", and dismissed other assertions that have fueled 9/11 conspiracy theories. [94] On January 13, despite having the authority to call for an emergency meeting of the Senate to hold the Senate trial,[failed verification] McConnell did not reconvene the chamber, claiming unanimous consent was required. [194] He faced Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes in the general election, and defeated Grimes, 56.240.7%. ', "Trump slashes at McConnell as he reiterates election falsehoods at Republican event", "Trump blames election loss on "suppression polling," attacks Pence and "pathetic" McConnell", "McConnell says Senate would acquit Trump if trial held today", "McConnell indicates he'll let Trump's lawyers dictate Trump's impeachment trial", "McConnell says he'll be in 'total coordination' with White House on impeachment trial strategy", "McConnell: 'There's no chance' Trump is removed from office", "On eve of expected impeachment, Trump lashes out at Pelosi, Democrats", "McConnell displays mastery of Senate with impeachment victory", "How Mitch McConnell pulled off a near-impossible impeachment feat", "Charm, patience and Twitter tactics: How Trump, McConnell kept GOP in line on impeachment", "McConnell is said to be pleased about impeachment, believing it will be easier to purge Trump from the G.O.P. "[58][59], McConnell worked to delay and obstruct health care reform and banking reform, two of the most notable pieces of legislation that Democrats navigated through Congress early in Obama's tenure. Judge Kavanaugh will be voted on here on the Senate floor. Paul Cantanese, McClatchy reporter. He is the longest-serving U.S. McConnell is the Senate leader of the Republican Party, having served as minority leader since 2021 and previously from 2007 to 2015, and as majority leader from 2015 to 2021. [4][5], In 2021, McConnell was named one of the US' top 'climate villains' by The Guardian.[236]. [14], Following the GSN report, members of the 9/11 Commission began commenting on the information they had on Able Danger and Atta.