Freedom Caucus leader warns McConnell over Senate ad – The Hill

The conservative firebrand credited with pressuring then-Speaker John BoehnerJohn BoehnerFreedom Caucus leader warns McConnell over Senate ad Trump's budget is good for America, so why is Congress ignoring it? Tea Party favorite to lead conservative think tank MORE (R-Ohio) to resign in 2015 issued a warning Thursday to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellFreedom Caucus leader warns McConnell over Senate ad Religious protestors arrested outside Mitch McConnell's office Five takeaways from the GOP's healthcare reboot MORE (R-Ky.) and his establishment allies.

Anytime leadership goes after Freedom Caucus members, its not the prudent thing to do, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the far-right Freedom Caucus, told reporters in the Speakers lobby.

Meadows was referring to a television ad funded by the McConnell-linked Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), that attacked Freedom Caucus member Rep. Mo BrooksMo BrooksFreedom Caucus leader warns McConnell over Senate ad GOP super PAC targets Mo Brooks for past anti-Trump remarks GOP senator: Its a biblical miracle that Trump is president MORE (R-Ala.) as a career politician who has teamed up with liberals Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenFreedom Caucus leader warns McConnell over Senate ad Warren raises .5M in second quarter Tax credits bring much needed relief MORE in attacking President Trump.

The ad from the McConnell-aligned super PAC uses video clips of Brooks criticizing Trump during the 2016 presidential primary.

I dont think you can trust Donald TrumpDonald TrumpBlumenthal: Jared Kushner ought to resign Merkley: Trump Jr. meeting absolutely smoking gun Lewandowski on Russia probes: 'I have nothing to hide' MORE with anything he says, the congressman says in the ad, adding that those who vote for Trump will regret their decision.

Brooks, regarded as one of the most conservative House members, ischallenging new GOPSen. Luther Strange, the former Alabama attorney general who was appointedin Februaryto replaceJeff Sessionsafter he was confirmedas Trumps attorney general.

McConnell and his allies, including the SLF, are backing Strange in the Aug. 15 special Senate primary. And they believe Brookss past criticisms of Trump, whos enormously popular in Alabama, will severely harm his Senate ambitions.

But Meadows suggested the SLF is attacking Brooks so aggressively in ads and press releases because the congressman is rising in the polls.

Of course hes a viable candidate. I think he wins, Meadows predicted.

Two years ago this month, the North Carolina conservative stunned Washington by filing a motion to vacate resolution to try to oust BoehnerJohn BoehnerFreedom Caucus leader warns McConnell over Senate ad Trump's budget is good for America, so why is Congress ignoring it? Tea Party favorite to lead conservative think tank MORE from the Speakership. That move, on Meadowss birthday, came after Boehner had retaliated against several Freedom Caucus members, and its triggered a series of actions that led to Boehners resignation just two months later, in the middle of his third term as Speaker.

When reporters jokingly suggested he could present a "motion to vacate" in the Senate, Meadows replied that there is no procedural maneuver to remove a sitting Senate majority leader.

Its not fun to joke about those things in July, but I do know there is no vehicle over there, Meadows said.

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Freedom Caucus leader warns McConnell over Senate ad - The Hill