The Mercury (Pottstown, PA)

McConnell, Pelosi homes vandalized

- By Timothy D. Easley and Travis Loller

Vandals lashed out at the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate over the holiday weekend.

LOUISVILLE, KY. » Vandals lashed out at the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate over the holiday weekend, blighting their homes with graffiti and in one case a pig’s head as Congress failed to approve an increase in the amount of money being sent to individual­s to help cope with the coronaviru­s pandemic.

Spray paint on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s door in Kentucky on Saturday read, “WERES MY MONEY.” “MITCH KILLS THE POOR” was scrawled over a window. A profanity directed at the Republican senator was painted under the mailbox.

At House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home in San Francisco, someone spraypaint­ed graffiti and left a pig’s head and fake blood on New Year’s Day, police said. The vandalism was reported around 2 a.m. Friday, a police statement said, and a special investigat­ions unit is trying to determine who did it.

KGO-TV reported that

graffiti found on the garage door of the Democratic leader’s home included the phrases “$2K,” “Cancel rent!” and “We want everything,” apparently referencin­g Democratic lawmakers’ failed efforts to increase the coronaviru­s relief checks from $600 to $2000.

The news station says security cameras surround the three-story brick home in the tony Pacific Heights neighborho­od.

McConnell released a statement on Saturday condemning the vandalism at his home in Louisville.

“I’ve spent my career fighting for the First

Amendment and defending peaceful protest,” he stated. “I appreciate every Kentuckian who has engaged in the democratic process whether they agree with me or not. This is different. Vandalism and the politics of fear have no place in our society.”

McConnell said he and

his wife are not intimidate­d by the vandalism. “We just hope our neighbors in Louisville aren’t too inconvenie­nced by this radical tantrum.”

Louisville police are investigat­ing the incident at McConnell’s home, which occurred around 5 a.m. Saturday. There currently are no suspects, police spokespers­on Dwight Mitchell said in an email.

On New Year’s Day, Senate Republican­s refused to allow debate over a bill to

increase the amount of COVID-19 relief. The increase, supported by President Donald Trump, passed the Democratic-led House but was blocked by McConnell.

The government has begun sending out the smaller payments to millions of Americans. The $600 payment is going to individual­s with incomes up to $75,000. Congress approved the payment in late December.

Loller reported from Nashville, Tennessee.

 ?? TIMOTHY D. EASLEY - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Graffiti reading, “Where’s my money” is seen on a door of the home of Senate Majority LeaderMitc­h McConnell, R-Ky., in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. As of Saturday morning, messages like “where’s my money” and other expletives were written with spray paint across the front door and bricks of the Kentucky Republican’s Highlands residence.
TIMOTHY D. EASLEY - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Graffiti reading, “Where’s my money” is seen on a door of the home of Senate Majority LeaderMitc­h McConnell, R-Ky., in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. As of Saturday morning, messages like “where’s my money” and other expletives were written with spray paint across the front door and bricks of the Kentucky Republican’s Highlands residence.
 ?? TIMOTHY D. EASLEY - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? A neighbor looks at the spray paint on the front of the home of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, r, Ky., which was vandalized overnight in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021.
TIMOTHY D. EASLEY - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A neighbor looks at the spray paint on the front of the home of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, r, Ky., which was vandalized overnight in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021.

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