Pelosi bemoans blocking of bills by ‘Moscow Mitch’

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell as “Moscow Mitch” during a political speech in Illinois on Wednesday as she chided the Kentucky Republican for blocking an array of legislation passed by her chamber this year.

Speaking at a Democratic event in Springfield, Pelosi, D-calif., recounted a series of bills passed by the House, including measures raising the minimum wage, reforming elections and expanding health care.

“We sent our legislation to the Senate,” Pelosi said. “Moscow Mitch says that he is the ‘grim reaper.’ Imagine describing yourself as the ‘grim reaper,’ that he’s going to bury all this legislation.”

Mcconnell has used the term “grim reaper” to describe his role in killing what he has characterized as far-left legislation coming over from the Democrat-led House.

Mcconnell, meanwhile, has chafed at the growing use of the nickname “Moscow Mitch,” which was coined by MSNBC host Joe Scarborough in response to Mcconnell blocking House bills last month aimed at preventing foreign interference in U.S. elections.

Mcconnell described those bills as “partisan” as Senate Democrats sought to pass them by unanimous consent shortly after special counsel Robert Mueller testified that Russia was laying the groundwork to interfere in the 2020 election “as we sit here.”

Asked Wednesday for comment on Pelosi’s use of “Moscow Mitch,” a Mcconnell aide pointed to Mcconnell’s comments on the Senate floor in response to Scarborough and Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank, who referred to Mcconnell as a “Russian asset” around the same time. In his comments, Mcconnell bemoaned “modern-day Mccarthyism.”

During her remarks, Pelosi also urged the Senate to pass a pair of bills approved by the House in February designed to strengthen background checks for gun buyers.

“We’ve been waiting since February, and now public sentiment must weigh in to save lives,” Pelosi said.

In her remarks, Pelosi accused President Donald Trump of undermining the Constitution, referencing House investigations into possible obstruction of Mueller’s probe into 2016 election interference and other matters.

“No one is above the law,” Pelosi said.