McConnell stands by past statement that ex-presidents are "not immune" from prosecution

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said helium stands by comments helium made successful the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, battle connected the Capitol that erstwhile presidents, including Donald Trump, are "not immune" from transgression prosecution. 

"Face the Nation" moderator and main overseas affairs analogous Margaret Brennan asked McConnell if helium inactive believes erstwhile presidents are not wholly immune from prosecution, arsenic helium said successful aboriginal 2021 a small implicit a period aft rioters who supported erstwhile President Trump stormed the Capitol. 

• Transcript: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell connected "Face the Nation," April 28, 2024

The Supreme Court is present considering whether Trump is entitled to wide immunity from national prosecution, and its ruling successful the substance volition beryllium captious successful determining the destiny of his 2020 predetermination trial. 

"Let's enactment it this way. I addressed that contented connected February the 13th" of 2021, McConnell said. "... And January the 6th of 2021. I basal by everything I said then. Obviously, it'll beryllium up to the Supreme Court to determine whether I was correct."

Three years ago, McConnell voted to acquit Trump successful the impeachment proceedings implicit the Jan. 6 Capitol assault, reasoning successful portion that Trump "didn't get distant with thing yet" and could inactive beryllium held accountable by the courts. 

"We person a transgression justness strategy successful this country. We person civilian litigation," McConnell said connected Feb. 13, 2021. "And erstwhile presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one."

Margaret Brennan interviews Mitch McConnell connected "Face the Nation" connected April 25, 2025.  CBS News

At contented successful the lawsuit earlier the Supreme Court, Trump v. United States, is whether the erstwhile president tin look transgression charges for allegedly authoritative acts portion helium was successful the White House. The dispute, which arose from the national prosecution by peculiar counsel Jack Smith, is the 2nd to travel earlier the justices successful their existent word with important consequences for Trump's political future.

• In Trump immunity case, divided Supreme Court seems unfastened to immoderate protection

The highest tribunal could instrumentality months to render a decision. 

McConnell inactive endorsed Trump for president, telling Brennan that helium has ever maintained helium would enactment the Republican nominee for president. 

McConnell has said he'll measurement down from his enactment relation successful the Senate successful November, though his word won't expire until 2027. That means, arsenic Brennan pointed out, Trump could beryllium successful the White House portion McConnell serves retired the remainder of his term. 

• McConnell says assemblage presidents request to "get power of the situation" amid protests

McConnell dismissed the thought of information checking oregon influencing Trump erstwhile the presumptive GOP nominee parrots misinformation astir Russia and Ukraine. 

"I'm not going to springiness immoderate proposal to our campaigner successful the — successful the statesmanlike election," McConnell said. "What I'm focusing connected is turning the Senate into a bulk Republican."

Last week, aft overmuch negotiating and hand-wringing, the Senate passed a $95 cardinal overseas assistance measure for Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. McConnell, who spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aft the bill's passage, said helium apologizes for however agelong the bundle took to pass. To Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's credit, McConnell said, Democrats stuck unneurotic — it was Republicans who needed to beryllium persuaded. 

According to the latest CBS News polling, 79% of self-identified Republicans accidental the root of accusation they spot astir connected Ukraine and Russia is Trump, much truthful than the Pentagon. Brennan asked McConnell however helium would effort to antagonistic that messaging.

"I deliberation the azygous astir important happening I tin bash is marque definite my successor is the bulk leader, nary substance however the statesmanlike predetermination comes out," McConnell said. "I haven't been wholly satisfied with this administration. I deliberation the information that our nominee fundamentally decided not to proceed whipping radical against the bundle was a bully sign, and I'm going to beryllium advocating expanding the defence budget, nary substance who gets elected, and preparing ourselves for the agelong term, which is China, Russia and Iran."

Melissa Quinn and Robert Legare contributed to this report