McConnell talks tough on Russian hackers but leaves ballot security to states

Phillip M. Bailey | Courier Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Mitch McConnell visits Louisville ICE office to discuss protests McConnell on ICE, protesters and more

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said this week Russians "better quit messing around" in U.S. elections, but then said Friday securing ballots is up to state and local officials.

"There has been a lot of interaction from the administration and from the Senate Intelligence Committee, (which) actually laid out advice to state and local officials who in our country conduct the elections," McConnell said at a Friday press conference in Louisville.

McConnell, the Republican leader, was responding to a question about hacking attempts against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, of Missouri, who was unsuccessfully targeted by Russians this week.

McCaskill is the first known U.S. lawmaker targeted by foreign cyber warfare in connection to the upcoming fall elections since attacks were launched against the 2016 presidential race.

McConnell's office said he has called on several Senate committees to examine and make recommendations on additional steps that could respond to or deter Russian interference.

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But it's remains unclear what specific action is being taken to block those cyber attacks.

"The Russians, as we know, are bad actors," McConnell said Friday during his second press conference in as many weeks in his home state. "They messed around in the last election, and I've made it clear that they better not mess around with another one. And we're on the watch for any efforts they may make to interfere in the 2018 election."

Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Grimes did not respond immediately to a request for comment Friday, but previously has said the state's ballots are safe because its voting equipment is not connected to the internet.

The White House said a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday, President Trump and others heard plans to safeguard U.S. elections against "malicious actors." It said efforts are underway to provide cybersecurity help to state and local authorities.

McConnell had a bigger appetite for badgering Democrats and their split over a grassroots movement to abolish the Immigration and Custom Enforcement agency.

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Louisville activists, some of whom have heckled McConnell in public in recent weeks, escalated their tactics this week in their movement to get rid of ICE. Police arrested nine demonstrators on Thursday who had blocked the elevators to the local immigration court inside the Heyburn Building on West Broadway.

The groups behind the Occupy ICE movement also set up a new encampment that was quickly squashed by Louisville police who cited local anti-camping rules. Earlier police successfully ended an encampment outside the agency's downtown office that had lasted for almost two weeks.

McConnell said he visited the local ICE office on Friday to show support those agents for their "patriotic" efforts in protecting the country from dangerous and illegal "aliens" in the country.

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"I wanted to go by and tell them I was proud of them and we're grateful for the hard work that they do and make sure that people in Louisville and across our state understand what ICE actually does," he said.

Proud to visit @ICEgov in #Louisville, #Kentucky to personally express my support to the brave men & women who help enforce our immigration laws. Fighting for a safe & secure America, with secure borders & strong law enforcement. https://t.co/cX4HMUo5Fl pic.twitter.com/NyefyUAwso — Leader McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) July 27, 2018

Chanelle Helm, an Occupy ICE organizer in Louisville, described McConnell's visit to the agency on Friday as "disgraceful." She said the Louisville immigrants that her group is advocating for are not criminals.

"It's just a media ploy," Helm said. "It’s just something so that he can fit into that Trump base."

McConnell repeated his earlier criticism that Democrats who are possible presidential contenders in 2020 have embraced the abolish ICE movement. He tried to link those potential candidates to avowed socialists who are associated with the Occupy ICE movement.

"The folks in the streets outside who've been encamping downtown and have been approaching me in various restaurants are in favor of open borders, eliminating ICE and in fact argued in a recent op-ed that it was kind of pointless to have border enforcement at all," McConnell said.

Here are some highlights from McConnell's interview with WHAS radio host Terry Meiners following the press conference:

Border Wall

McConnell said funding of the border wall will likely wait until after midterm elections. He thinks this time Congress can avoid another government shutdown.

Amazon

The majority leader dismissed the idea that the giant has become a monopoly.

“One of the great things about capitalism is you’re never on top forever,” he said.

Midterm elections

“On the Senate side, we have a pretty good map,” he said, and later added, “We’re hopeful we can hang on to our majority.”

Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh

McConnell was hopeful about the confirmation of Kavanaugh, calling him an “all-star nominee.”

“It probably won’t be a landslide, but he’ll be confirmed,” he said

Fancy Farm

The senator played coy about attending the event in August.

“I usually go,” he said. “I haven’t made an announcement yet, but I’m there most of the time.”

Reporter Zahria Rogers contributed to this report. Reporter Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at 502-582-4475 or pbailey@courierjournal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/philb.