McConnell: 'Why can’t the Mueller investigation finally wrap up?'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday that it’s time for special counsel Robert Mueller to conclude the federal probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion with Moscow by President Trump.

“What I think about the Mueller investigation is, they ought to wrap it up. It’s gone on seemingly forever and I don’t know how much more they think they can find out,” the Kentucky Republican said in an interview with “Behind Closed Doors,” a Washington Examiner podcast.

McConnell said he had not reviewed the explosive Department of Justice inspector general report examining the FBI’s flawed handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state. Clinton was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2016.

Senate Republicans have been more careful in their approach to the Mueller probe than have their GOP colleagues in the House, who months ago formed something of a Trump cheerleading section in their criticism of the special counsel to help the president defend himself from questions raised by the investigation.

But McConnell’s expressed impatience, especially considering his tendency to speak deliberately and economically, suggests that Senate Republicans are growing weary of the investigation as crucial midterm elections draw near. Republicans in the Senate have an opportunity to gain seats, even as the overall environment is sour for their party, and they worry about outside factors spoiling their prospects.