Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Tuesday repeated assurances to protect 9/11 victims — pushing back on comedian Jon Stewart’s criticism of congressional inaction on funding.
In a video tweeted Tuesday by ABC, the Kentucky Republican tells reporters: "I don't know how many times I can say: We've never left the 9/11 victims behind, and we won't again."
Stewart's testimony last week at a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund hearing in the Senate gained nationwide attention as the comedian shamed lawmakers for not quickly passing legislation that could appropriate more funds for the first responders to the terrorist attack.
On “Fox News Sunday,” Stewart took a direct shot at McConnell, charging: “In terms of getting the 9/11 bills passed, [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell has been the white whale of this since 2010.”
McConnell countered the next day, saying he didn’t know why Stewart was “all bent out of shape.”
“It sounds to me like he is looking for some way to take offense,” he said. “There is no way we won’t address this problem appropriately.”
Stewart then went on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to call out McConnell’s seemingly laconic attitude.
“These are the first heroes and veterans and victims of the great trillions of dollars war on terror. And they’re currently still suffering and dying and still in terrible need.”
Stewart also mocked McConnell for saying lawmakers were too busy to attend the hearing.
"I feel like an asshole," Stewart said. "Now I feel stupid. This is a huge misunderstanding. I didn’t know that they were busy. I didn’t mean to interrupt them with their jobs."
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