McConnell dismisses latest Jon Stewart criticism: We ‘never left’ 9/11 victims behind

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responded to comedian Jon Stewart again Tuesday, the latest in their ongoing battle over the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.

ABC News shared video of the Kentucky Republican telling reporters, “I don’t know how many times I can say: We’ve never left the 9/11 victims behind, and we won’t again.”

“I don’t know how many times I can say: we’ve never left the 9/11 victims behind and we won’t again,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says when asked about criticism from Jon Stewart on health care bill for 9/11 first responders. https://t.co/8IpfWSyrCN pic.twitter.com/qCbHoqKiUM

— ABC News (@ABC) June 18, 2019

Stewart gained nationwide attention last week for his emotional testimony at a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund hearing in the Senate, shaming the lawmakers for not quickly passing legislation that could appropriate more funds for the first responders to the terrorist attack. 

{mosads}In an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Stewart targeted McConnell specifically.

“I want to make it clear that this has never been dealt with compassionately by Senator McConnell,” Stewart said. “He has always held out until the very last minute, and only then, under intense lobbying and public shaming, has he even deigned to move on it.”  

McConnell responded Monday, saying he didn’t know why Stewart “is all bent out of shape” during an appearance on “Fox and Friends.”

“It sounds to me like he is looking for some way to take offense,” he said. “There is no way we won’t address this problem appropriately.”

But Stewart fired back Monday night in an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” calling out McConnell for taking a “we’ll get to it when we get to it” approach. 

“These are the first heroes and veterans and victims of the great trillions of dollars war on terror. And they’re currently still suffering and dying and still in terrible need.”

Stewart also mocked McConnell for saying lawmakers were too busy to attend the hearing.

“I feel like an asshole,” Stewart said. “Now I feel stupid. This is a huge misunderstanding. I didn’t know that they were busy. I didn’t mean to interrupt them with their jobs.”