McConnell: Impeachment 'diverted attention' from coronavirus

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says President Donald Trump's impeachment trial distracted the federal government from the novel coronavirus as it reached the United States in January, despite warnings at the time from public health experts and members of Congress about the spread of the deadly virus.

The outbreak "came up while we were tied down on the impeachment trial. And I think it diverted the attention of the government, because everything every day was all about impeachment,'' McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday.

The Trump administration has been severely criticized for its slow response to the pandemic, especially for the shortage of coronavirus testing kits when the infection first spread to the US from China.

Trump initially downplayed the virus, comparing it to the seasonal flu and declaring it may go away on its own. The administration also has been criticized for not supplying needed protective medical gear for health care workers.

McConnell's argument breaks sharply with assurances that the Trump administration made early on about the virus. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who declared a public health emergency January 31, said at the time that the public "can be assured the full weight of the US government is working to safeguard the health and safety of the American people.

And weeks after his February 5 acquittal in the impeachment trial, Trump continued to minimize fears as he insisted the US was very, very ready for whatever the outbreak brings.

On February 25, he told business leaders in India: "I think that's a problem that's going to go away." I think it's going to work out fine,'' Trump added. I hope so. We're working very hard. ... We just asked for two and a half-billion dollars on getting everything ready just in case something should happen.''
Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate health and foreign relations committees issued a joint statement after the January 24 briefing, declaring, We are monitoring the outbreak of a novel coronavirus closely and are in close communication with United States government agencies on actions and precautions needed to prevent further spread of this virus."
Cotton called Trump's decision to impose travel restrictions on China probably the single most important thing the US government has done over the last two months.''