BREAKING: Mitch McConnell Bows Out; Collins to Vote No on Kash ***UPDATED***

***UPDATE***

The cloture vote on the Kash Patel nomination passed on a 51-47 vote. As noted earlier, Susan Collins was a “no” on the resolution.

Lisa Murkowski, to everyone’s shock and surprise, voted in favor of the resolution.

And, true to his word from yesterday, Mitch McConnell redeemed himself somewhat by casting the deciding vote in favor of this resolution.

The nomination now moves to a final confirmation vote later today.

***END UPDATE***

Long-time Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday that he will not seek re-election to the Senate seat he has occupied for 40 years:

Long a GOP stalwart who earned a reputation as perhaps the single greatest manipulator of arcane Senate procedures and rule to his advantage, McConnell has more recently soiled that reputation by hanging onto power despite clear severe health issues, and by siding with Senate RINOs on several Trump nominee votes.

Had he decided to retire with dignity when he last faced re-election in 2020, McConnell would have no doubt been celebrated by conservatives everywhere for his many accomplishments in not only enacting Republican priorities but also blocking many of the Democrats’ worst impulses.