McConnell Boots Two Senators Off Top Committee After They Tried To Oust Him As Leader

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) removed Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) from the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday after the two lawmakers attempted to oust the veteran Republican leader.

Scott claimed during an interview with The Hill that McConnell “kicked” him off the Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over science, transportation, technology, and a host of interstate commerce issues. Scott reportedly learned of the decision in a text message and was “furious,” one source told the outlet, which added that other conservatives concur that the failed leadership bid was a major factor behind the removal.

“This is what happens when you challenge leadership,” he said in a statement to The Daily Wire. “It was McConnell’s decision to remove someone who has actually run businesses and ran the third largest state from a committee I’ve served on for four years. You’ll have to ask him why.”