Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said Monday that the U.S. has a “very solid democracy” and that there is “very little election fraud,” despite false claims by former president Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 election was subject to widespread voter fraud.
McConnell’s comments came after voters said threats to American democracy are a top concern in a recent NBC News poll.
The Kentucky Republican was asked about the poll at the Scott County Chamber of Commerce in Georgetown, Ky.
“I do think it’s an important issue,” McConnell said of threats to American democracy. “There were those who were trying to prevent the orderly transfer of power for the first time in American history and that was not good.”
However, he noted that those efforts to prevent the peaceful transfer of power were ultimately “thwarted.”
“I guess that’s had some impact on the poll. … But look, I think we have a very solid democracy,” McConnell continued. “I don’t think of the things that we need to worry about, I wouldn’t be worried about that one.”
The poll was conducted between August 12 and 16, just days after the FBI raided Trump’s personal residence at Mar-a-Lago as part of an investigation into the former president for potential removal or destruction of records, obstruction of an investigation, and a violation of the Espionage Act, according to a search warrant. A list of items removed from the property shows the FBI recovered eleven sets of classified documents during the search, including some top-secret documents that should only have been available in special government facilities.
Fifty-seven percent of registered voters believe that investigations into potential wrongdoing by Trump should continue, while 40 percent say they should stop, the poll found.
The unprecedented raid seems to have bolstered support for the former president. A source close to Trump told Axios the raid has had a huge impact on fundraising and has reengaged donors in the biggest way since the end of Trump’s time in office.
The number of Republicans who support former president Donald Trump more than they support the GOP jumped 7 points from May to August, according to the NBC News poll. The August poll found 41 percent of Republicans support Trump more than the party, while 50 percent support the party more than they support the former president. However, 58 percent of Republicans supported the GOP more just three months ago.